Govt in J&K based on ‘common minimum programme’, we won’t tolerate terror, says Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Taking a jibe at the Congress, PM Modi said that it was the UPA that renamed NDA's national schemes and not vice-versa.

"Congress followed NDA policies, only renamed policies formulated during Vajpayeeji's tenure," he said. Defending NDA's schemes, Modi said that his government believes in working for the poor and not the rich or corporates.

"The Jan Dhan Yojana opened bank accounts for the poor: is that a program for the corporate sector or the rich? Is the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a gimmick for corporates? Is it not our responsibility to provide basic cleanliness to the common man? When we build toilets in schools, is that too for corporates? Are soil health cards for the rich?" Prime Minister Modi asked while replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Rajya Sabha.

"India has a large workforce, but we need a skilled workforce. Skill development will help the poorest of the poor. How will 'Housing for All' help the rich? Are they the ones without houses?

There can be no political agenda in this. We ask the Congress-ruled states to come work with us to improve the state in our country," he added.

Read: Government faces embarrassment in Rajya Sabha; opposition amendment passed

The Prime Minister further said that the perception of the BJP as an essentially Hindi-speaking upper caste party has changed over the past few years.

"Governments do not run this country, it is the people of India who do. There was a time when The Bharatiya Janata Party was considered a party from the Hindi-speaking belt on India. But today, the BJP is in power, right from the Kutch region to Goa to Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

There was a time when the BJP was considered an 'upper caste party'. But after seeing me at the helm of the nation, the party cannot be called that anymore," he added.

Criticising performance of the UPA regime, Modi said that it should first look into the mirror before accusing his government of mismanaging policy.

"In 2004, UPA had removed the cabinet secretary soon after taking over. They had also removed the foreign secretary and the defence secretary. We have not insulted bureaucrats and officers like you did. You even removed and humiliated governors when you came to power," Modi said.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati intervened, and said, "We are looking after the poor but in the private sector there is no reservations for people from the SC/ST. I want to ask the Prime Minister, are you going to ensure reservations for the SC/ST in the private sector to improve their cause?"

Here are the highlights:

• The government in Jammu and Kashmir is based on common minimum programme
• We have zero tolerance towards terrorism; do not support any statements that question this stand
• Don’t make the Land Acquisition Bill an issue of politics or arrogance
• The law will stay we will remove the shortcomings. Please do not spread lies that compensation is reduced
• Our government is ready to fight the menace of black money
• Moving towards mobile governance
• Focus must be on infrastructure
• No one was ready to talk on the issue of black money, it was only BJP who took up the issue
• 7 crore Aadhar cards in 45 months of UPA, 17 crore Aadhar cards in 9 months of NDA
• Politics and customs equally important
• Power is addictive, pray to god that we are saved from such addiction
• Railways and highways, they are both under the Government but one did not approve project of the other. We changed that
• In 2004 Cabinet Secretary was removed, Foreign Secretary was made without regarding seniority. Governors were insulted and removed
• Both Ghulam Nabiji & Anandji spoke about officers being transferred. Before they preach they must recall what their government did in 2004
• We want to go ahead with the sovereign gold coin scheme. This will ensure gold is properly utilised and monetised
• No political agenda in the Govt's welfare initiatives; we will ask Congress-ruled states to join us in this national cause
• Accidental death insurance will benefit the poor
• Atal Pension Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana - all these are for the poor
• Good governance is our government’s priority
• Balanced development is crucial
• I got threats when I was Gujarat Chief Minister
• BJP not a Hindi belt, upper caste party
• Congress followed NDA policies,only renamed policies formulated during Vajpayeeji's tenure
• This Swachhata Abhiyaan,is this for corporates? Can we not provide basic cleanliness facilities to people. Is Jan Dhan about corporates?:
• House should respect mandate of the people, in democracy threats do not work
• I have faced threats during my term as CM of Gujarat
• This is the Council of States, more important to represent the state than parties here
• In the debate many members participated in great detail and I am thankful to them
• More than the party we belong to, it is about the State that we represent in this House
• In a democracy, threats do not and cannot work. For 14 years in Gujarat, I was threatened with jail
• We do not feel that just because we are in the treasury benches we know it all. Everyone has to work together
• I had said from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Every government, every PM has contributed in taking this country forward.
• Governments do not run this country, it is the people of India who do
• We don't think that the birth of the nation took place on August 15, 1947. It happened thousands of years before that