Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the Opposition while speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, accusing it of adhering to the principle of "family first".
While the government is marching ahead with the vision of "nation first", the Opposition's politics is still rooted in "corruption, nepotism and appeasement", Modi said, while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
"Expecting 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' from Congress will be a huge mistake. It is beyond their thinking and it also doesn't suit their roadmap because the whole party is dedicated only to one family," he said.
Modi added that the hat-trick of wins for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the last three Lok Sabha elections shows "the people of the nation have tested, understood and supported our model of development. Our model of development is - 'nation first'."
After 2014, India got an "alternate model of governance", the prime minister stressed, adding that this model is not focused on appeasement, but on satisfaction.
The current governance model is benefitting all sections of the society, including the middle class whose income up to Rs 12 lakh has been exempted from taxation, Modi said.
Modi also accused the Opposition of attempting to "spread caste poison in the society". His remarks come in the backdrop of the Congress, along with its allies, demanding a nationwide caste-based census.
"For many years, OBC MPs from all parties had been demanding constitutional status for the OBC Panel. But their demand was rejected, as it might not have suited their (Congress) politics. But we gave constitutional status to this panel," Modi said.
The prime minister also charged the Congress of not paying due respect to BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. "They never considered Baba Saheb worthy of the Bharat Ratna award. But today, due to compulsions, they have to raise the slogan of 'Jai Bheem'," he said.
Modi, during his Rajya Sabha address, also marked his support for the Uniform Civil Code, which has been introduced in the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand.
"Today, we are moving forward by respecting and taking inspiration from the makers of our Constitution. Some people must be thinking of what this UCC is. Those who will read about the Constituent Assembly debate will get to know the truth," he said.
Modi also targeted the Congress by recalling the Emergency that was imposed under Indira Gandhi's rule between 1975 to 1977. "The nation has seen the period of Emergency and how the spirit of the Constitution was crushed. It was done for the sake of power. The country knows this," he said.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
