Modi likens note ban to surgery on healthy body, says done at best time'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Parliament on Tuesday, telling lawmakers that an earthquake had finally come -- "the earth was likely angered".

Modi combined two events to drive in his point -- last night's moderate earthquake in Delhi and Rahul Gandhi's two months ago that there would be an earthquake in Parliament if he spoke on the note-ban issue.

Modi said: "I was wondering why the earthquake came. When someone sees 'seva' or any positive virtue in the word 'SCAM', then mother earth would definitely be upset," Prime Minister Modi said.

Both the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi had taken to wordplay yesterday at different political rallies in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, trying to find suitable words for the acronym SCAM. Modi asked a crowd in Meerut to rid the state of SCAM -- Samajwadi Party, Congress, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

Rahul Gandhi retaliated: for him SCAM meant seva, courage, ability and modesty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the Lok Sabha on Tuesday morning, replying to the Motion of Thanks to President Pranav Mukherjee's address in the Parliament on January 31.

In his speech, Modi attacked the Congress party, saying, “We remember how democracy was under threat from 1975 to 1977, when Opposition leaders were jailed and newspaper freedom curtailed.”

Modi also retorted to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who said that while Indira Gandhi had sacrificed her life for the nation, the PM cannot claim the patriotism of “even a dog from his family.” Modi said, “We are not brought up in this sort of obsequious tradition."

Emphasising the importance of 'Jan Shakti', the Prime Minister said it was because of the people's power that a person, born to a poor family, became the Prime Minister of India.

"Let us understand and appreciate inherent strength of our people and take India to newer heights. Faith in Jan Shakti will give results," he added.

Modi lambasted the Opposition for criticising the demonetisation drive and said the latter was more interested in television publicity than debating the issue.

"From day one, we were ready for a discussion on demonetisation but some leaders were keen in giving TV bytes and not debates or discussion," Prime Minister said.

Asserting that demonetisation decision was taken at the right time, the Prime Minister said, "When can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. Similarly, the economy was in a strong condition and our note-ban decision was taken at the best time."

The Prime Minister also likened the demonetisation drive with the Swachh Bharat mission. "Like Swachh Bharat, the decision of demonetisation is a movement to clean India from corruption and black money," he said.

Taking a dig at the Opposition for politicising the issue of cleanliness and criticising the Swachh Bharat mission, Modi said, “I was surprised that there were some who made cleanliness a political issue. Why can't we work together on ushering a Swachh Bharat," he added.

Here are the highlights from his speech:

• I thank you all and also the Opposition.
• The earthquake finally arrived yesterday. We had been hearing threats for a long time.
• When someone finds benefit in SCAM, a quake can be expected.
• How can someone see SEVA or any positive virtue in the word SCAM.
• We remember how democracy was under threat from 1975 to 1977, when opposition leaders were jailed, newspaper freedom curtailed.
• Why Benami law passed during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure in 1988 was not notified for 26 years.
• There is something very special about ‘Jan Shakti’. It is due to this ‘Jan Shakti’ that the son of a poor mother can become the Prime Minister of India.
• There are many here like me who were born after independence. While we did not have the privilege to fight for the nation’s independence we try to live for the nation.
• Somewhere on the way, 'Jan Shakti' was forgotten. We do not accept this.
• Let us understand and appreciate the inherent strength of our people and take India to newer heights. Our faith in Jan Shakti will give results.
• I had said it from the Red Fort - every Prime Minister has contributed to the nation. But there is a party here that wants to attribute everything to one family.
• I was surprised that there were some who made cleanliness also a political issue. Why can't we work together on ushering a Swachh Bharat.
• When Rail budget was first presented, the transport sector was different, but now things have changed and a more comprehensive look is needed.
• From day 1, we are ready for a discussion on demonetisation, but some were more keen on TV bytes and not debates.
• My fight is for the poor and giving them their due. I will continue with my fight.
• We do not see everything from the prism of elections. The interests of the nation are supreme for us.
• You can have an operation when the body is healthy. Our economy was doing well and thus our decision was taken at the right time.
• Like Swachh Bharat, the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India from corruption and black money.
• Changes were made in rules repeatedly post-demonetisation as govt wanted to find ways to ease problems of people. We also had to tweak rules to stop those who were trying to game the system, those adept at theft.
• Steps against black money were not sudden. The Supreme Court had warned of large amounts of black money stashed abroad. After we came to power, the very first day in Parliament we did what the Supreme Court had said, formulate the SIT.
• What was the reason that a popular law like MNERGA was amended 1035 times.
• During your time, only 69 km roads were built per day under Pradhan Mantri gram sadak yojana. In a matter of few years, we have successfully been making 110 km per day, and with the use of space technology.
• You can oppose Modi, that is your job but if something is genuinely good you should lend your support to it.
• Changes don’t happen on a whim; proper process and planning is being followed.
• I am taking such decisions which are hurting big people and because of that I am going to face problems. I am ready for that.
• 22,27,000 houses have been constructed in the past one year.
• Rs 7633 crore leakage in social programs has been stopped by us.
• Now, middlemen no longer enjoy the benefits they did. We have stopped the corruption and loot.
• We have been successful in providing Rs 21,000 crore; this has helped us save Rs 11000 crore in electricity bills.
• Surgical strike was a ‘big decision’ but no Opposition party opposed it like they opposed demonetisation. No amount of praise is enough to describe the feats of our Army. Our army is fully capable of defending the nation.