In an apparent dig at the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 26 November said some people have issues with anything that is undertaken to ensure transparency and these days electoral bonds have become “their favourite topic.”
Modi's remarks were his first since the issue of electoral bonds snowballed into a political flashpoint following a report by a news portal that the Reserve Bank of India and the Election Commission had reservations against the bonds but were overruled by his government.
In an apparent swipe at the Congress, Modi also said the “sensitive and emotional” Ayodhya issue could have been solved much earlier, but due to “vote bank” politics of some parties it got dragged for so long.
Modi, while addressing Republic TV Summit in Delhi, said Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir was a temporary provision in the Constitution from day one but due to the “political selfishness of some people and families,” it was considered as permanent.
‘Pattern to Opposition’s Criticism’: PM Modi
Taking a dig at the Opposition led by the Congress, he said that there was a pattern to some people raising issues just before every parliamentary session.
“These people resort to some or the other lies and then it is imposed on everyone. If you recall that some people resorted to chaos over NPAs (non performing assets)... there was a pattern,” he said.
“Before the session, news is planted or made a breaking news. There was a similar pattern in NPAs, EVMs, Rafale (fighter jet deal) and a few days back when the government cut down the corporate tax, they again started,” said PM Modi.
He further said, “These days election (electoral) bonds has become their favourite topic. Some people have issues if anything happens in the country to ensure transparency.”
On Article 370’s Abrogation, Ayodhya Matter
Modi spoke at length about the two important developments about his government's second term — abrogation of Article 370 provisions and the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case.
Asserting that uncertainty caused due to Article 370 gave a boost to those spreading separatism in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said his government by removing Article 370 and 35A reestablished the supremacy of the Constitution.
“Now in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh new development avenues have begun to open,” he said.
“You know what India has suffered because of Articles 370 and 35A and you have also seen how this challenge has been resolved,” said PM Modi, referring to his government's abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two Union territories.
Taking an apparent dig at the Congress, Modi said those governments that had been in power earlier did not show the will to solve the Ayodhya issue.
“They were looking at this as a vote bank issue and so made efforts to stall it in various courts. There was no reason that this dispute would not have been solved earlier, but due to the selfish politics of some parties and groups the Ayodhya dispute got dragged for so long,” added PM Modi.
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