by NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government is committed to spending all the money and resources that are required to save the lives of the poorest of the poor, till the time the threat of Covid persists. “We will protect our poor so long as the threat of pandemic is there. We will spend whatever is required,” said Modi, setting off buzz that government could be open to extending the scheme of providing free foodgrains beyond March 31 when its extended run is supposed to end.
Modi, while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha, attacked certain politicians, without taking names, for having tried to spread misinformation against Covid vaccination, but showered praise on the Indian people for not being swayed by such campaigns and beating all “political games” by lining up at the vaccination centres. “We have not seen any movement against vaccination. This is largely becasue of the Indian ethos where people don’t like to jeopardise lives of others by their their actions. In fact, they were a step ahead of the political class”, said the PM.
Modi brought up statements made by some MPs on the floor of the House that “vaccines were no big deal” and that “expenditure on vaccines was a waste”. “I am surprised that some people are unable to see such a big achievement of India”, he said.
Modi said ever since Covid broke out, India had tried its best to mobilise resources and facilities, domestically and from abroad, to fight the pandemic, making specific references to the decision to exempt agricultural sector and infrastructure projects from lockdown. “Both were tough decisions, but have paid off, helping country harvest bumper yields and create jobs,” he said.
Modi countered the opposition’s attack on job losses saying the EPFO payroll had added 1.2 crore people in 2021, 60-65 lakh of whom were in the 18-25 age group. “If you look at the age profile, most of the new entrolments are in the 18-25 year bracket of new entrants in the economy. Even a Nasscom report stated that 27 lakh were employed in the IT sector since 2017.”
On inflation, Modi said it had been kept at around 4-5% between 2014 and 2020, as against UPA rule when inflation had touched double-digits.
Modi said some politicians continued to paint a grim picture of India, adding that Congress seems to have lost sight of whatever good has come since it was voted out of power.
Modi, while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha, attacked certain politicians, without taking names, for having tried to spread misinformation against Covid vaccination, but showered praise on the Indian people for not being swayed by such campaigns and beating all “political games” by lining up at the vaccination centres. “We have not seen any movement against vaccination. This is largely becasue of the Indian ethos where people don’t like to jeopardise lives of others by their their actions. In fact, they were a step ahead of the political class”, said the PM.
Modi brought up statements made by some MPs on the floor of the House that “vaccines were no big deal” and that “expenditure on vaccines was a waste”. “I am surprised that some people are unable to see such a big achievement of India”, he said.
Modi said ever since Covid broke out, India had tried its best to mobilise resources and facilities, domestically and from abroad, to fight the pandemic, making specific references to the decision to exempt agricultural sector and infrastructure projects from lockdown. “Both were tough decisions, but have paid off, helping country harvest bumper yields and create jobs,” he said.
Modi countered the opposition’s attack on job losses saying the EPFO payroll had added 1.2 crore people in 2021, 60-65 lakh of whom were in the 18-25 age group. “If you look at the age profile, most of the new entrolments are in the 18-25 year bracket of new entrants in the economy. Even a Nasscom report stated that 27 lakh were employed in the IT sector since 2017.”
On inflation, Modi said it had been kept at around 4-5% between 2014 and 2020, as against UPA rule when inflation had touched double-digits.
Modi said some politicians continued to paint a grim picture of India, adding that Congress seems to have lost sight of whatever good has come since it was voted out of power.
