Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invoked Congress stalwart Indira Gandhi's name yet again and made a veiled attack on the Congress for "trying to take credit for all projects and initiatives of my government".
"There are two kinds of people -- those who work and others who take credit for it," the prime minister said in the Rajya Sabha while replying to the debate on President Pranab Mukherjee's address to a joint sitting of parliament.
None other than former prime minister Indira Gandhi said that "there is less competition in the first category of those who work", he said while taking a potshot at the Congress.
During his reply to the motion of thanks on the president's address in the lok Sabha on March 3, Modi had quoted from speeches of Indira Gandhi as well as Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi.
Referring to skill development and clean Ganga initiatives launched by his government, the prime minister said skill development was an important facet of governance and social development was continuing in India as an old tradition. Every government has contributed its part in that endeavour, he added.
Similarly, he said, the Congress would raise its voice on the Ganga cleanliness drive taken up with renewed vigour by his government. "I know such a voice will be raised from your end," he told the opposition members.
"But the issue is not the initiative only... I know Rajiv Gandhi had started the clean Ganga project... if you have started it, why then is Ganga not clean these days," he said.
Even on skill development, he directed his attack against the Congress and said that while there was no lack of knowledge about the importance of skill development, nothing substantial had been achieved.
Several skill development projects were launched, named and renamed, he said.
Possible to double farmers' income, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly defended his government's ambitious promise to double farmers' income in five years, that was doubted by the opposition.
"Of course it is possible to double farmers' income," Modi said, responding to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President's Address to parliament.
He said he was "not an economist like (former prime minister) Manmohan Singh and that is why I am not that knowledgeable".
"But," Modi added, "I have worked with farmers and know some things."
He said the ambitious plan was possible if farmers start using novel agricultural practices and value-add their products.
Modi called for focusing attention on the health of soil in agricultural areas across the country that "will boost productivity" and enhance farmer income.
"We have to work towards value addition. We have laid strong emphasis on value addition of agricultural products," the prime minister said.
Coordination between both houses essential for passing bills: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said coordination between both houses of parliament was a must since many pending bills needed to be passed.
"The nation is waiting for us to pass many bills," Modi said in the Rajya Sabha while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address to parliament.
"This is a chamber of ideas. It must guide the nation. Coordination between both houses is essential."
"let us pass bills earlier passed in the lok Sabha as soon as possible and give an impetus to India's progress," he added.
