“Constructive criticism vital for a strong democracy, but…”: Modi

New Delhi: Amid the Opposition’s allegation of shielding billionaire businessman Gautam Adani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that constructive ‘criticism’ is vital for a strong democracy, but in the last nine years of his tenure, only accusations and abuses have been hurled at the ruling dispensation.

Concluding the debate on the ‘Motion of Thanks’ to the President’s address to Parliament, the PM in Lok Sabha said, “I always welcome criticism of democracy since India is the mother of democracy. Constructive criticism is vital for a strong democracy, and criticism is like a ‘shuddhi yagya’ (purification yagya). However, instead of criticism, only accusations and abuses have been levelled in the last nine years (since the BJP came to power).

He added, “In the last nine years, we have had compulsive critics who indulge in ‘unsubstantiated’ allegations instead of constructive criticism. Such criticism will not be tolerated by those who are experiencing basic facilities for the first time.”

“Since 2014, opposition parties have been accusing that India has become weaker. Now they say that India has become strong enough to influence other countries’ decisions. I would like themin the last nine years of his tenure, only accusations and abuses have been hurled at the ruling dispensation. to come out of this state of confusion and finally decide whether India has become stronger or weaker,” the Prime Minister said.

In an apparent attack on the Gandhi family, the PM said, “Instead of a dynasty, he is a member of the family of 140 crore Indians. The blessings of 140 crore Indians is my ‘Suraksha Kavach’ (safety armor) .”

Taking a swipe at the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s 10-year tenure at the Center, Modi called the tenure ‘The Lost Decade’.

“The years between 2004 and 2014 (Congress regime) were burdened with ‘scams’ and at the same time, there were terror attacks happening in every corner of the country. This decade saw the decline of the Indian economy, and the Indian voice on global fora grew very feeble,” the PM said.

He added, “India under the UPA was called ‘The Lost Decade’ while today people are calling the present decade of 2030 as ‘India’s Decade’.”

The PM also reiterated the government’s commitment to those who are deprived and neglected and asserted that the biggest benefit of the government’s scheme has gone to Dalits, tribals, women, and vulnerable sections.

Throwing light on Nari Shakti (women’s power), the PM informed that no efforts have been spared to strengthen the country’s women.

He remarked that when the mothers of India are strengthened, then the people are strengthened, and when the people are strengthened, it strengthens the society, which leads to a strengthening of the nation.

The PM also underlined that the government has addressed the aspirations of the middle class and honoured them for their honesty.