Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the Parliament this evening in response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address. The 16-hour debate, which began on Monday, July 1, is expected to conclude today, allowing the Prime Minister to present his remarks.
This follows a contentious speech by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, marking his first address as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha during the current Parliament session. Gandhi’s speech was marked by sharp criticism of the ruling BJP, accusing its leaders of not adhering to Hindu values due to their engagement in “violence and hate,” a comment which incited strong reactions from the treasury benches. Prime Minister Modi countered by accusing Gandhi of labeling the entire Hindu community as violent. Notably, these contentious remarks were expunged from the official records.
Gandhi also pressed the government for answers on pressing issues, such as the alleged leak of the NEET exam paper and the Agniveer scheme. His criticism of the Agnipath scheme, which he claimed was the “brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” along with comments about industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and the centralisation of the exam coaching system in Kota, were also removed from the record.
In addition to his response to the debate, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address the parliamentary party meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This will be his first speech to the MPs of the ruling coalition during the first session of Parliament since his third term as Prime Minister commenced. Historically, Modi has addressed BJP MPs during sessions but this occasion marks a significant event for the broader NDA.
The timing of these addresses is crucial as the BJP, for the first time since 2014, no longer holds a majority in the Lok Sabha following the recent elections. The BJP secured 240 seats, while its allies won 53, ensuring the NDA a comfortable majority in the 543-member House. Official sources indicate that all MPs of the BJP and its allies have been notified about the meeting and are expected to attend. The parliamentary proceedings today are highly anticipated, with the Prime Minister’s response likely to address the points raised by the opposition and set the tone for the government’s agenda in the current session.
