Prime Minister Narendra Modi charged Opposition parties on Tuesday with providing “muted and indirect” support to the security breach incident in Parliament. He asserted that, due to their conduct, they will remain in Opposition with further reduced numbers in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing what he claimed to be the last BJP parliamentary party meeting this year, Modi set out the theme for the ruling alliance’s campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He took a swipe at the INDIA bloc over its meeting on Tuesday.

Slamming Opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings, Modi said that they were giving a “political spin” to the incident in frustration over their losses in the recent Assembly polls. He added that their goal is to oust his government, but the government’s objective is to ensure a bright future for India.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi quoted the Prime Minister, stating, “Some people are uniting in their intent to remove the BJP from power, while we, as patriots, are working for the betterment of India. They are utilising their strength to overthrow the government, whereas we are using our strength for the progress of India.”

Modi asserted the Opposition’s conduct in Parliament will result in further reduction of their numbers in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, while the BJP aims to increase its tally. Pointing to empty rows in the auditorium where all BJP MPs had gathered, he mentioned that these will be filled after the 2024 polls.

Referring to the December 13 incident of two persons jumping into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery and opening smoke cans, he emphasised that anyone who believes in democracy will not accept such an act. He added that this act should have been condemned unanimously.

“Unfortunately, what I have been witnessing is that the Opposition is expressing its frustration over losing in the elections and giving a political spin to the entire incident. They are even providing muted and indirect support to it, which is worrisome. Supporting the incident and suggesting things like ‘what else could they have done’ is both worrisome and condemnable,” he said, according to a source.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi recently said that issues like unemployment and price rise were behind the security breach.

“How can a party that believes in democratic values overtly or covertly justify it?” the Prime Minister said, according to BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The conduct of these parties clearly indicates that they have made up their minds to remain in Opposition and are practising for it, Modi said, adding that the nation has also decided to keep them there and further reduce their strength.

Modi asked BJP MPs to maintain restraint and adhere to democratic norms. “We should expose the Opposition while keeping our voices under control and staying within the limits of democracy. In the coming days, regardless of whether others participate or not, we must actively engage in Parliament’s proceedings,” he said, noting that some important Bills are coming up for discussion in both Houses.

“It would have been good if the Opposition had participated in these debates, but perhaps good deeds are not in their fate,” he said in a biting criticism of these parties, according to party leaders.

The Prime Minister also urged BJP members to inform first-time voters about the situation in the country ten years ago, emphasising that those around 18 years old have only witnessed his government’s development works and India’s rising global stature. They might not be aware of the corruption and misrule a decade ago, he added.

He suggested that a campaign on these lines could be taken up on National Voters’ Day, which falls on January 25.

Modi asked them to visit border villages to witness the development there and highlight it. He mentioned that Dhordo in Gujarat is a model village for the development of border areas and recently received a UN honour as the best tourist destination.

Modi also drew attention to his use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) during his address at Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi on Sunday, which translated his Hindi speech into Tamil in almost real-time.