Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The Hon’ble President has elaborated on Bharat’s achievements, the world's expectations from Bharat, and the resolve to develop the self-confidence of the common man in Bharat to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). She has also provided a direction for the country's future. The Hon’ble President's address was both inspiring and impactful, and it served as guidance for all of us for future work. I am here to thank the Hon’ble President for her address!

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

More than 70 Hon’ble Members of Parliament have tried to enrich this motion of thanks with their valuable thoughts. Discussions took place from both the ruling and opposition sides. Each person shared their understanding of the President's address in their own way, and they spoke about ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir. I fail to understand what the difficulty is in this. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is our collective responsibility, and that is why the country has given us the opportunity to sit here. However, as far as the Congress is concerned, I believe it would be a huge mistake to expect them to follow the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’ This is beyond their thinking, beyond their understanding, and does not fit into their roadmap because their large party has become dedicated to a single family, making ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ impossible for them.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The Congress had created a political model in which lies, deception, corruption, nepotism, and appeasement were all mixed together. Where all these things are mixed, there can never be ‘Sabka Saath’.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

In the Congress model, the top priority was ‘Family First’, and therefore, their policies, principles, speech, and conduct were all focused on safeguarding that one thing. After 2014, the country gave us the opportunity to serve, and I am grateful to the people of this country that they have entrusted us with the responsibility of serving the country for the third consecutive time. Despite such a vast country with a vibrant democracy, vibrant media, and the freedom to express all kinds of opinions, the country has chosen us again and again to serve. This is because the people of the country have evaluated, understood, and supported our development model. If I were to sum up our model in one word, I would say ‘Nation First.’ With this noble sentiment and a dedicated approach, we have continually focused on this one principle in our policies, programs, speech, and conduct, making it the guiding standard for our service to the nation. And, Hon’ble Mr. Chairman Sir, I say with great pride and satisfaction that for 5 to 6 decades, the country never had an opportunity to evaluate an alternative model. But after 2014, the country saw a new model—what an alternative approach could be, what priorities should be set, and how to approach governance. This new model trusts in ‘Satisfaction’ rather than ‘Appeasement’. In the previous model, especially during the Congress era, appeasement was everywhere; it had become their political medicine. They followed a self-serving policy, exploiting politics, national interests, and everything else through corruption. Their approach was to give a little to the marginalized sections, keep the rest in scarcity, and then during elections, promise them the same thing, saying, "Look, they got it, maybe you will get too." This continued as they handed out false promises, kept people blindfolded, and continued with their politics in hopes of securing votes at election time.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Our effort has been to ensure that Bharat makes optimal use of the resources it has. We aim to utilize the time available to the country efficiently, avoiding any waste and using every moment for the nation’s progress and the welfare of the general public. That’s why we adopted an approach of ‘saturation’ —to stretch the blanket only as far as it can cover, but ensure that those for whom the plans are made benefit fully from them. We have moved away from the approach of giving some and withholding from others, or leaving people in uncertainty and constantly frustrating them, pushing them into despair. Instead, we have adopted the ‘saturation approach’, where every individual receives the full benefit of the plans designed for them. In the past decade, we have brought the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ to life at every level, and today we can see the positive changes taking place in the country as a result. This has been the core mantra of our governance— ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. Our government also demonstrated its commitment to the dignity and safety of Dalits and Adivasis by strengthening the SC/ST Act, and we have further enhanced it to ensure their protection.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Today, there are concerted efforts to spread the poison of casteism, but for three decades, OBC MPs from both Houses and all parties had been demanding that the OBC Commission be given constitutional status. However, their demands were rejected, refused, because perhaps at that time, it did not suit their political agenda. In a politics of appeasement and ‘Family First’, such a move would not have aligned with their interests, and it wouldn't have served their political objectives, especially when it came to discussions in their favour.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

It is my privilege that, together, we have fulfilled the hopes and demands of the OBC community, which had been waiting for over three decades. The demand for constitutional status for the OBC Commission, which had been repeatedly ignored and rejected, was finally addressed by us. And we did not just fulfil their demand, but for us, their dignity and respect are just as important. We believe in treating the 140 crore citizens of this country as ‘Janata Janardan’ and we work with that spirit in mind.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Whenever the issue of reservation has come up in our country, it has never been approached with a healthy, solution-oriented mindset that accepts the truth. Instead, efforts have been made to create division in the country, to generate tension, and to create animosity between different groups. This has been the approach since the time of independence. For the first time, our government presented a model, inspired by the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, by providing 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections of the general category. This was done without creating any tension, without taking away from anyone else. When this decision was made, it was welcomed by the SC community, the ST community, and the OBC community as well. No one felt any discomfort because such a huge decision was made in a way that aligned with ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. And this way, the entire nation peacefully accepted the decision in a calm and healthy manner.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

In our country, the issues of ‘Divyangs’ (differently-abled people) were never given the attention they deserved. However, when the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is followed, the ‘Divyang’ individuals are also part of the ‘everyone’ category. It was only then that we extended reservations for the ‘Divyangs’, and worked in mission mode to ensure that facilities were available for them. We implemented several welfare schemes for the ‘Divyang’ people, but more importantly, we made sure these schemes were put into action. Not only that, Hon’ble Mr. Chairman Sir, we also took legal and authentic steps to secure the rights of the transgender community. We worked to ensure their rights were formally recognized and protected. The way we embody ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is by showing great sensitivity toward these marginalized sections of society.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

No one can deny the contribution of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power) in Bharat’s journey of development. However, if they are given opportunities and become part of decision-making, it can accelerate the country's progress. Keeping this in mind, we, along with this House, took a historic decision. We, as citizens of this country, can be proud of this decision. This House will be remembered not just for its form or appearance, but because the first decision of this new House was the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’.  We could have approached the beginning of this new House in many other ways. We could have used it for our own applause, as it was done in the past, but instead, we chose to start this House by honouring the strength of ‘Matri Shakti’ (motherhood). And, with the blessings of the ‘Matri Shakti’, this House has begun its work.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

If we look back at history, and I say this not just for the sake of saying it, the Congress had immense hatred towards Babasaheb Ambedkar. They were deeply angered by him, and no matter what, Congress always reacted negatively to every action and statement of Babasaheb. All the documents related to this are available. In fact, on two occasions, efforts were made to defeat Babasaheb in elections, and despite his monumental contributions, he was never considered worthy of the Bharat Ratna by them.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Babasaheb was never considered worthy of the Bharat Ratna. Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir, the people of this country, from all sections of society, respected his ideals and sentiments. And today, as a result, Congress is reluctantly forced to say ‘Jai Bhim.’ Their mouths go dry when they do, and Hon’ble Mr. Chairman Sir, this Congress seems to have become quite skilled at changing its colours. They change their mask so quickly, and this is clearly visible.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

If you study the Congress, you will find that while our core mantra has always been ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, theirs has consistently been about diminishing others' achievements. As a result, they have destabilized governments. Whenever any political party formed a government, they focused on destabilizing it. This is the path they chose—to diminish others’ achievements—and after the Lok Sabha elections, those who were with them are now running away, realizing that they will also be finished in the same way. This is the result of their policies, which have led Congress to this state today. The country’s oldest party, one that was part of the independence movement, is now in such a sorry state. They have wasted their energy in diminishing others' lines, but if they had worked to extend their own line, they wouldn’t have ended up in this situation. I’m giving unsolicited advice: focus on extending your own line. If you do so, the country will eventually give you the opportunity to come forward as well.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Babasaheb understood the fundamental challenges faced by the SC and ST communities with great detail and depth. He himself had experienced their struggles, and thus there was a sense of pain, suffering, and a strong desire to work for the welfare of society. Babasaheb presented a clear roadmap for the economic advancement of the SC and ST communities. His words reflected this deep understanding. One important thing Babasaheb said and I would like to quote him. Babasaheb said: "Bharat is an agrarian country, but for Dalits, it can never be the primary means of livelihood." This was said by Babasaheb. He further explained the reasons for this, stating that the first problem was that purchasing land was beyond their financial reach. Even if they had money, there were no opportunities for them to buy land. Babasaheb had analysed this situation carefully, and in addressing this issue, he suggested a solution. He had urged that the injustice being faced by Dalits, our Adivasi brothers and sisters, and the marginalized communities, the hardships they were forced to live with, could be addressed by promoting industrialization in the country. Babasaheb was an advocate for industrialization because he saw it as a means to provide skill-based jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for economic self-reliance for Dalit, Adivasi, and marginalized groups. He believed industrialization would be the most important tool for their upliftment. However, despite several decades of independence and Congress having ample opportunities to be in power, they never paid attention to Babasaheb's ideas. They outright rejected his vision, and instead of addressing the economic poverty of the SC and ST communities as Babasaheb had envisioned, Congress made things worse, deepening the crisis for these communities.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

In 2014, our government changed this approach and prioritized skill development, financial inclusion, and industrial growth. We introduced the PM Vishwakarma Yojana to focus on those sections of society without whom the structure of society itself wouldn’t be possible. These are the small communities spread across villages, those engaged in traditional crafts like blacksmiths, potters, goldsmiths, and other similar groups. For the first time, the country paid attention to them, providing training, technological upgrades, new tools, assistance in designing, financial support, and access to markets. We launched a special initiative to support them in all these areas. This is a section of society that had been neglected for so long, yet they play a crucial role in the shaping of society. We have made sure to focus on the welfare of the Vishwakarma community.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We launched the Mudra Yojana, inviting and encouraging people who were venturing into entrepreneurship for the first time. We ran a large-scale campaign to provide loans without guarantees, so that this vast community in society could realize their dreams of self-reliance, and this initiative has been a huge success. We also introduced another scheme, Stand Up India, aimed at providing our SC, ST brothers and sisters, and women from any community, with an unsecured loan of up to one crore rupees from the bank to help them start their businesses. In this year's budget, we doubled the allocation for this scheme. I have seen millions of young people from marginalized communities, as well as countless women, start their businesses through the Mudra Yojana. Not only have they created employment for themselves, but many of them have also provided employment to one or two others.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Through the Mudra Yojana, we have worked towards empowering every artisan, every community, and fulfilling the dream that Babasaheb had envisioned. 

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Those who were never asked or considered are being cared for by Modi. The welfare of the poor and the marginalized is our top priority. In this year's budget, we have touched upon various small sectors like the leather industry, footwear industry, and more, which will benefit the poor and disadvantaged communities the most. Take the example of toys: people from these very communities are involved in toy manufacturing, and we focused on that. Many poor families have been provided with various forms of assistance, and the result is clear: for years, we were stuck in the habit of importing toys, but today, we are exporting toys three times more than before. The benefit of this is reaching those in the lowest rungs of society, those struggling through hardships.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

In our country, there is a large community of fishermen. For our fisher community, we not only created a separate ministry but also extended all the benefits of the Kisan Credit Card, which farmers receive, to our fisherman brothers and sisters as well. We provided this facility, established a separate ministry, and approved around 40,000 crore rupees for this initiative. We have focused on the fisheries sector, and the results of these efforts are evident: our fish production has doubled, and exports have also doubled, benefiting our fishermen brothers and sisters directly. These are some of the most marginalized members of our society, and by giving them more priority, we have made efforts to work for their welfare.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

There are those who have recently developed a penchant for spreading the poison of casteism. Among our country’s tribal community, there are various levels of situations. Some groups are very small in number and scattered across around 200-300 places in the country, with their total population being very limited. These groups have been so marginalized, and when you delve into their conditions, it's heart-breaking. I am fortunate that I received guidance from the Hon’ble President on this issue, as she knows this community closely. Among the tribal community, there are some groups living in extremely disadvantaged conditions, and our efforts have been to bring them into the fold of welfare programs. With this in mind, we launched the PM JANMAN Yojana with an allocation of 24,000 crore rupees, so that these communities receive the facilities and welfare they deserve. The aim is for them to first attain parity with other tribal communities, and then be equipped to match the overall progress of the entire society. This is the direction in which we are working.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We have taken into account the concerns of different sections of society, but there are also certain areas in our country that have been left behind due to backwardness, such as our border villages. These villages were abandoned as ‘backward villages’ or ‘the last villages’. We were the first to bring about a psychological transformation. We changed the narrative that these far-flung areas should gradually be left behind. Instead, we decided that the people on the borders, which receive the first and last light of sun, should come first, and we created special plans for the ‘last villages’, giving them the status of ‘first villages’. We ensured that these villages were prioritized in terms of development, providing them with targeted plans and assistance. To emphasize this commitment, I sent my cabinet colleagues to these remote villages, sometimes with temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees, where they stayed for 24 hours to truly understand and address the problems faced by the villagers. Moreover, on occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day, we now invite the heads of these border villages as guests. They are honoured at the President’s ‘At Home’ events because our vision is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. We continue to seek out those who still need assistance, and we make it our mission to reach them quickly.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The Vibrant Village Program is also proving to be highly beneficial for the country’s security. We are also laying greater emphasis on it.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The President, in her address on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Republic, urged us to draw inspiration from the framers of the Constitution. Today, I can say with great satisfaction that, while respecting and drawing inspiration from the spirit of our Constitution makers, we are moving forward. Some people may wonder what the UCC (Uniform Civil Code) is all about, but those who read the debates of the Constituent Assembly will understand that we are trying to bring that spirit into action here. Some people may face political obstacles, but we live by the spirit of our Constitution makers, and it is only then that we gather the courage and commitment to try to fulfil it.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We should have respected the framers of the Constitution and drawn inspiration from each of their words. However, it is the Congress that, immediately after independence, shattered the sentiments of the Constitution makers, and I have to say this with great regret. You can imagine that when there was no elected government in the country, there was a stopgap arrangement until the elections. In that stopgap arrangement, the person who was in charge made amendments to the Constitution right away. Had an elected government been in place, it would have been more understandable, but they did not even wait for that. What did they do? They crushed the freedom of speech, they crushed freedom of speech, imposed restrictions on newspapers and the press, and continued to roam around the world with the tag of being ‘democrats’, while the essential pillar of the country's democracy was being crushed. This was a complete disrespect for the spirit of the Constitution.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The first government of the country was formed under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. During his tenure, a labour strike took place in Mumbai. During that time, the famous lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote a poem titled ‘Commonwealth ka Daas Hai’. For simply singing this poem, Nehru had one of the greatest poets of the country thrown into jail. Famous actor Balraj Sahni was also jailed just for participating in a procession, joining the rally of the protesters.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Lata Mangeshkar ji's brother, Hridaynath Mangeshkar ji, planned to compose a poem on Veer Savarkar and present it on All India Radio. Just for this, Hridaynath Mangeshkar ji was permanently banned from All India Radio.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

After this, the country also witnessed the period of Emergency. The Constitution was trampled upon, and the spirit of the Constitution was crushed, all for the sake of power. The country is aware of this. During the Emergency, the famous film actor Dev Anand ji was asked to publicly support the Emergency. Dev Anand ji clearly refused to support the Emergency and showed courage. As a result, all of Dev Anand j's films were banned on Doordarshan.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Those who talk about the Constitution have kept it in their pocket for years, and this is the result of that—they have not respected the Constitution.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Kishore Kumar ji refused to sing for the Congress, and for that one offense, all of Kishore Kumar's songs were banned on All India Radio.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

I cannot forget those days of the Emergency, and perhaps those images still exist today. These people who talk about democracy, human dignity, and love to give grand speeches … During the Emergency, great leaders of the country, including George Fernandes, were handcuffed and chained. Members of Parliament and popular leaders of the nation were bound with handcuffs and chains. The word Constitution does not befit their mouths.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

For the sake of power, for the arrogance of the royal family, millions of families in this country were destroyed, and the country was turned into a prison. A long struggle ensued, and those who considered themselves invincible had to accept the power of the people. They had to bow down, and through the strength of the people, the Emergency was lifted. This was the result of the democracy that runs in the veins of the people of Bharat. Our Hon’ble Kharge ji keeps narrating great couplets and enjoys it, and Mr. Chairman, you also seem to enjoy it. I read a couplet somewhere that says, तमाशा करने वाले को क्या खबर, तमाशा करने वाले को क्या खबर, हमने कितने तूफानों को पार कर दीया जलाया है, हमने कितने तूफानों को पार कर दीया जलाया है। (What does the showman know? What does the showman know? We have overcome so many storms to light a lamp, we have crossed so many storms to light a lamp.)

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

I have great respect for our esteemed Kharge ji, who is a senior leader, and I will always honour him. Such a long tenure in public life is no small feat. In this country, whether it is Sharad Pawar or Kharge ji, or our Dev Gowda ji sitting here, they have all achieved extraordinary feats in their lives. Kharge ji, you will not hear these things in your home, I will tell you. This time, I saw Kharge ji reading poems, but the things he was sharing, and you caught it correctly, when you said, "Just tell me where this poem was from," he knew, Mr. Chairman. He knew when those poems were written. Inside, the situation in Congress was so painful, but the conditions were such that they couldn’t speak out, so he thought this was a good platform and decided to express it here. And that is why, through Neeraj's poetry, he presented the situation here.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

I would like to share a few lines from the poet Neeraj ji with Kharge ji today. These are lines written by Neeraj ji during the time of the Congress government. He said, है बहुत अंधियारा अब सूरज निकलना चाहिए, जिस तरह से भी हो यह मौसम बदलना चाहिए। (There is much darkness now, the sun should rise, in whichever way it may, the season should change.) Neeraj ji wrote this poem during the Congress era. In 1970, when Congress had control everywhere, another poetry collection by Neeraj ji was published titled ‘Phir Deep Jalega’. Hari Om ji is aware of it. At that time, his collection became very popular. In ‘Phir Deep Jalega’, he said something very important, मेरे देश उदास ना हो, फिर दीप चलेगा, तिमिर ढलेगा (My country should not be sad, my country should not be gloomy, the light will burn, darkness will fade away). And look at our fortune, our inspiration, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, also said 40 years ago, सूरज निकलेगा, अंधेरा छटेगा, कमल खिलेगा (The sun will rise, the darkness will clear, the lotus will bloom). What Neeraj ji said, during the time of Congress, the sun continued to shine for them, but the country remained in darkness for many decades.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

For empowering the poor, the work that has been done during our tenure, through our government, has never been done before. We have shaped our policies with the goal of empowering the poor and enabling them to overcome poverty. I have full trust in the capability of my country's poor. If given the opportunity, they can overcome any challenge. And the poor have proven this. By benefiting from government schemes and seizing opportunities, 25 crore people have succeeded in overcoming poverty. Helping 25 crore people rise above poverty is a matter of pride for us, as we have accomplished something significant. Those who have escaped poverty have done so through hard work, trusting the government and using the schemes as a foundation. Today, many of them have transitioned from poverty to becoming a neo middle class in our country.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

My government stands firmly with the neo middle class and the middle class, and we stand with great commitment. The aspirations of our neo middle class and middle class are the driving force for the country today, a new energy for the nation, and the greatest foundation for the country's progress. We want to enhance the capabilities of the middle class and neo middle class. In this budget, we have made a significant part of the tax burden zero for the middle class. In 2013, there was tax exemption up to an income of 2 lakh rupees. Today, we have extended the tax exemption up to 12 lakh rupees. Whether someone is above 70 years old, from any community or background, they now benefit from the Ayushman scheme, and the biggest beneficiaries of this are the elderly in the middle class.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We have built four crore homes in the country and provided them to our fellow citizens. Of these, more than one crore homes have been built in cities. Homebuyers used to face significant fraud, and it was essential to ensure their security. In this House, we passed the RERA law, which has become an important tool to remove the obstacles to the dreams of the middle class for their homes. This time, the SWAMIH Initiative has been introduced in the budget, which focuses on the housing projects that have been delayed, where the middle class’s money is stuck, and their benefits are pending. We have allocated 15,000 crore rupees in this budget to complete those projects and fulfil the dreams of the middle class.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The start-up revolution, which the world has seen today and is having a significant impact, is largely driven by young entrepreneurs from the middle class. Today, the whole world is attracted to Bharat, especially after the meetings held in 50-60 locations across the country during the G20 summit. People who once considered Bharat to be limited to Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru have now realized the vastness of Bharat. Today, the world’s attraction towards Bharat’s tourism has increased. And when tourism grows, it creates numerous business opportunities, which will greatly benefit our middle class, providing them with new sources of income.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Today, our middle class is filled with self-confidence, and this is unprecedented. It creates immense strength for the country in itself, and I have full faith that Bharat’s middle class has now geared up to realize the resolution of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). They are walking alongside us towards this goal.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The youth of the country will play the biggest role in building a ‘Viksit Bharat’. We are focusing on the demographic dividend, and the students currently in schools and colleges will be the biggest beneficiaries of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. As they grow older, the journey of the country’s development will advance with them. The youth in our schools and colleges form the foundation of this progress. Over the past 10 years, we have worked under a well-thought-out strategy to strengthen this base. For the first time in decades, we introduced a new National Education Policy, as there was no concrete thought about what the education system of the 21st century should look like before. We introduced the new National Education Policy after three decades. There are many initiatives under this policy, one of which is PM SHRI Schools. Already, around 10,000 to 12,000 PM SHRI Schools have been established, and we are moving forward to create more in the future.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

One important decision we made was a change in the education policy. We emphasized education and examinations in the mother tongue. When the country gained independence, there were still remnants of a colonial mindset that had a grip on some areas of our society, and one of them was our language. Our mother tongue was subjected to severe injustice, and children from poor, Dalit, tribal, and marginalized communities often faced obstacles because they couldn't speak the language. This was gross injustice to them. The mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ would not let me sleep peacefully, and it is for this reason that I emphasized the importance of education in the mother tongue in the country. I want children to become doctors and engineers in their mother tongue. For those who did not have the opportunity to learn English, we cannot limit their potential. We have brought about a significant change, and because of this, today, even the children of poor or widowed mothers are dreaming of becoming doctors and engineers. For tribal youth, we have expanded the Eklavya Model Schools. Ten years ago, there were about 150 Eklavya schools. Today, we have 470, and now we are moving forward with plans to open at least 200 more Eklavya schools.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We have also brought about significant reforms in the military schools, and we have opened the doors of these schools to daughters as well. As someone who has been a student of a military school yourself, you know that previously, the doors were closed to daughters. You also understand the significance and potential of military schools, as they have produced individuals like you. Now, that opportunity will also be available to the daughters of our country. We have opened the gates of military schools for them. Today, hundreds of our daughters are studying in an environment filled with patriotism, and the spirit of living for the nation is naturally growing within them.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The NCC (National Cadet Corps) plays a huge role in grooming the youth. Those of us who have been in contact with the NCC know that during that age and phase of life, it offers a golden opportunity for personal development, for holistic growth, and provides exposure. In the past few years, there has been an unprecedented expansion in the NCC. We had even stifled it. Before 2014, the number of NCC cadets was around 14 lakhs, but today, that number has crossed 20 lakhs.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The enthusiasm, energy, and desire among the youth of the country to do something new and to break away from routine tasks are clearly visible. When I launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, I saw that even today, many youth groups in various cities are independently and voluntarily carrying forward the cleanliness campaign in their own way. Some are working in slums to promote education, while others are involved in various activities. Seeing all these efforts, we realized that the youth of the country should be given an opportunity. There should be an organized effort, and for this, we launched the MyBharat movement. MyYouth Bharat, MyBharat! Today, over 1.5 crore young people have registered for it, engaging in discussions on current national issues, deliberating, raising awareness, and actively participating. They no longer need spoon-feeding; they are moving forward with their own initiative and capabilities, achieving great things.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The field of sports gives birth to sportsmanship, and in a country where sports are widespread, that spirit naturally thrives. To empower sports talent, we have started working on various dimensions. We have provided unprecedented support in terms of infrastructure and financial assistance to ensure that the youth of our country get the opportunity to shine. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Khelo India campaign have the potential to completely transform our sports ecosystem, and we are already witnessing the impact. In the past decade, in every international sports event, Bharat has made its mark, showcasing its strength, and the country’s youth have proven their capabilities. Our daughters, too, with equal strength, are demonstrating Bharat’s prowess to the world.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The journey of a country from developing to developed involves significant importance of welfare and public welfare activities, but infrastructure plays a key role. Infrastructure is a great strength and the journey from a developing to a developed nation passes through infrastructure. We have understood the importance of infrastructure and emphasized it. Today, when we talk about infrastructure, it is essential that it is completed on time. If it is delayed, even if we plan, envision, and recognize its need, it does not benefit the nation, and it wastes taxpayer money. The country remains deprived of that benefit. Many years of waiting result in significant losses that cannot be expressed in words. During the Congress era, delays and hindrances became a culture. This became a part of their politics—deciding which projects to allow and which to hinder, and everything was weighed on a political scale. The mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ was not followed. To free the country from this Congress culture, we introduced a system called PRAGATI, and I personally monitor infrastructure projects through this platform. I conduct detailed reviews regularly. I am actively involved in tracking these projects, sometimes even using drones for video recording and live interactions with the areas involved. Nearly 19 lakh crore rupee worth of projects were stuck for years due to various reasons, such as lack of coordination between the state and the central government, or one department failing to coordinate with another. I review all of these issues. Oxford University studied our PRAGATI initiative and gave us a very positive report. They suggested that other developing countries can bring a revolution in infrastructure development learning from PRAGATI. This suggestion was made for all developing countries. I want to provide some examples with facts to show how the country suffered due to such delays. I am not saying that one person intentionally caused this, but a culture developed, and its impact was widespread. Now, look at Uttar Pradesh, we give very good speeches on agriculture and farmers, it sounds good. What’s the harm in inciting people? There is no investment at all, just keep stirring up the world, but no real work is being done. There was a plan for agriculture in Uttar Pradesh, the Saryu Canal Project. The Saryu Canal Project was approved in 1972, just think! It was approved in 1972. It was left pending for five decades. The plan that was conceived in 1972, the plan was made, and it was approved on paper, but it was only in 2021 that we came and completed it.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line in Jammu and Kashmir was approved in 1994. However, this rail line remained pending for years. After three decades, we finally completed it in 2025.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The Haridaspur-Paradeep rail line in Odisha was approved in 1996. It also remained stalled for years, and was completed in 2019 during our tenure.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The Bogibeel Bridge in Assam was approved in 1998. It was completed by our government in 2018. I can give you hundreds of such examples of how the culture of stalling, delaying, and misleading has caused immense damage to the country. You can imagine how much harm the Congress did by not pursuing the progress the nation deserved during its tenure. In infrastructure projects, proper planning and timely execution are key, and for this, the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was created. For those interested in the digital world, understanding PM Gati Shakti is crucial. I would recommend that states also make use of it. The PM Gati Shakti platform has 1600 data layers related to different sectors of our country, which helps speed up decision-making and simplifies it. It can be implemented quickly, and today, the Gati Shakti platform has become a foundational tool in accelerating infrastructure development.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

It is very important for today's youth to understand why their parents had to live through so many hardships. Why did the country end up in such a state? They need to understand this. If, in the past decade, we had not been proactive about Digital India, if we had not taken steps, we would have had to wait many years to access the conveniences we have today. The result of our proactive decisions and actions is that today, we are moving forward in sync with time, and in some cases, ahead of time. Today, 5G technology is spreading in our country at the fastest pace in the world.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

I am speaking from the experiences of the past. Whether it's computers, mobile phones, ATMs, or many other technologies, they had reached several countries much earlier than us, but it took decades for them to arrive in Bharat. When I talk about health, diseases, or vaccinations, like smallpox and BCG vaccines, those were being administered in the world when we were under colonial rule. Some countries had already implemented them, but it came after decades in Bharat. We had to wait for decades for the polio vaccine, while the world had already moved forward, and we were left behind. The reason was that Congress had tightened its grip on the country's system. They believed all the knowledge was with those in the government, and they thought only they could handle everything. This led to the License Permit Raj. I would like to tell the youth of the country how oppressive the License Permit Raj was—it prevented the country from progressing. The License Permit Raj became the identity of Congress.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

In the early days of computers, if someone wanted to import a computer, they had to get a license to do so. Even getting a license to bring in a computer would take years.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Those were the days when, to build a house, one needed cement, but even for cement, one had to seek permission. Not only that, Chairman Sir, if someone needed sugar for a wedding or a celebration, even sugar required a license! The youth of the country should know this. I’m talking about independent Bharat, not the British era, but the Congress era. During that time, the former finance minister of Congress, who considered himself very knowledgeable, admitted that without a license permit, no work could be done. All tasks passed through the license permit system, and he even stated that license permits could not be secured without bribery. I'm quoting Congress's own finance minister here. He said, "Nothing happens without bribery." And anyone can easily understand that, back then, bribery meant, who was the one responsible for that, who was the one behind it? Where did that money go? The youth of the country can understand this very well. There is a respected member of Congress present in this House, whose father had his own money, his own money, and he wanted to buy a car. Yet, he had to wait for 15 years to buy that car, during the Congress rule.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We all know that to get a scooter, you had to book it and pay for it, and it would take 8-10 years to buy a scooter. And if, in some cases, you had to sell the scooter, you needed permission from the government. This is how the country was run by them. Not only that, gas cylinders were given to MPs with coupons, and MPs would be given coupons saying that you could give gas connections to 25 people in your area. People had to stand in queues for gas cylinders. Getting a telephone connection was also a long and exhausting process. The youth of the country need to understand that those who give big speeches today, what did they actually do to the country? They should know this.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

These restrictions and the policies of the License Raj pushed Bharat into the slowest economic growth rate in the world. But do you know what this weak growth rate and failure came to be called in the world? It began to be referred to as the ‘Hindu Rate of Growth.’ It was a complete insult to an entire society, a failure of the people sitting in the government, a lack of ability to work, a lack of understanding, and the people who were immersed in corruption day and night. And a huge society was insulted with the term ‘Hindu Rate of Growth.’

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Due to the economic mismanagement and wrong policies of the royal family, an entire society was blamed and defamed worldwide. However, when we look at history, we see that the approach and policies of the people of Bharat were never based on the License Raj or permits. Indians have always believed in openness, and for thousands of years, we were among the first communities in the world to practice free trade, working hard in it.

Centuries ago, Indian traders would travel to distant countries to trade, with no restrictions or barriers. This was our natural culture, which we have now destroyed. Today, as the whole world recognizes Bharat’s economic potential, it sees us as a country moving forward at a fast pace. Today, the world looks at Bharat’s growth rate, and every Indian takes pride in it as we expand our economy.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir, 

The country is now breathing a sigh of relief and soaring to new heights, free from the grasp of the Congress party. By moving beyond Congress's License Raj and its flawed policies, we are promoting ‘Make in India.’ To boost manufacturing in Bharat, we introduced the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme and implemented reforms related to FDI (Foreign Direct Investment). Today, Bharat has become the second-largest mobile producer in the world. Previously, we were importing most of our phones, but now, we have established ourselves as a mobile exporter.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Today, Bharat’s identity has become synonymous with defence manufacturing. In the last 10 years, our defence product exports have increased by 10 times. It has increased by 10 times in 10 years.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

Solar module manufacturing has also increased by 10 times in Bharat. Today, our country is the second-largest steel producer in the world. In the last 10 years, our machinery and electronics exports have grown rapidly. Over the past decade, Bharat’s toy exports have more than tripled. In these 10 years, agrochemical exports have also increased. During the Corona pandemic, we supplied vaccines and medicines to more than 150 countries—Made in India. The export of our Ayurvedic and herbal products has also increased rapidly and continues to grow.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir, 

If the Congress had done something significant for khadi, I would have thought that they were carrying forward some inspiration from the freedom struggle, but they didn't even do that. The turnover of Khadi and Village Industries has surpassed 1.5 lakh crore rupees for the first time. In the last 10 years, its production has quadrupled. A significant benefit of all this manufacturing has gone to our MSME sector, leading to the creation of a large number of employment opportunities in the country.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

We are all representatives of the people. We are servants of the people. For a public representative, the mission of the nation and society is everything, and working with a vow of service is the duty of every public representative.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

The entire nation expects that we should leave no stone unturned in embracing a ‘Viksit Bharat’. It is our collective responsibility. This is the resolve of the nation, not of any government or individual, but of 140 crore citizens of Bharat. And Mr. Chairman Sir, write my words down, those who keep themselves away from the resolve of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, the nation will keep them distant. Everyone must join; you cannot remain excluded because Bharat’s middle class and youth are fully committed to advancing the country with all their might.

Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,

As the nation moves on the path of progress and achieves new heights of development, our roles have become very important. Opposition in governments is the nature of democracy. Criticism of policies is also a responsibility of democracy. However, extreme opposition, extreme pessimism, and attempts to shorten the path of others while trying to lengthen our own can become obstacles in the path of a ‘Viksit Bharat'. We must free ourselves from these tendencies and engage in self-reflection, continuously. I am confident that the best ideas from today's discussions in this House will guide us forward, and our reflection will continue. We will keep drawing energy from the President's address. Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the President and also to all the Hon'ble members of Parliament. 

Thank you very much!

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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MJPS/VJ/VK