'House should be run by substance not slogans,' says PM Modi ahead of Lok Sabha's first session

New Delhi: Reiterating that the people have given his government a third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first speech ahead of first session of the 18th Lok Sabha on Monday, said that the house should be run by substance not slogans.

He said that while a government needs to have bahumat (majority) to run, a country needs sahmat (consensus) to run. He also said that fifty years ago, during this period, our democracy faced a dark time when the Emergency was imposed.

“Today is a day of pride in parliamentary democracy, it is a day of glory. For the first time after independence, this oath is being taken in our new Parliament, till now this process used to happen in the old Parliament,” Modi said during the customary address during the beginning of every session. On Monday, he spoke for over 14 minutes. 

“For the second time after Independence, a government has got the opportunity to serve the country for the third time in a row – this opportunity has come after 60 years which is a matter of pride for us,” the prime minister added. “We believe that bahumat (majority) is required to run the government, but sahmat (consensus) is very important to run the country.”

PM Modi said that in the past decade, the BJP government continuously tried to establish a tradition. “Our constant endeavour is to serve Mother India with everyone’s consent and by taking everyone along to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of 140 crore countrymen. I can assure you that with the third term, our duties have increased threefold,” he said. 

During his speech, Modi also took a dig at the Opposition. “The people of the country do not want drama, ruckus. The country does not want slogans, it wants substance. The country needs a good opposition, a responsible opposition,” he said. 

Modi also reminded the Opposition about the Emergency, which was imposed fifty years ago on June 25, calling it a “dark spot” in Indian democracy. “Tomorrow is June 25. Those who are dedicated to the dignity of the Indian Constitution and have faith on democratic traditions, for them June 25 is a day that can never be forgotten. Tomorrow marks the completion of 50 years of black spot on Indian democracy. New generation will never forget how the Indian Constitution was rejected, destroyed and the country was turned into a prison, through declaration of Emergency,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that, in his customary address, the Prime Minister should have spoken about NEET, the rail accident in West Bengal, Manipur crisis, Assam floods, and the long-pending Census. 

“Sir, you are giving advice to the opposition. You are reminding us of the 50 year old Emergency, but have forgotten the last 10 years of undeclared Emergency which was ended by the people of India – they have given their mandate against Modiji. Despite this, if he has become the Prime Minister, then he should work … The Opposition and INDIA Janbandhan want consensus in Parliament. We will continue to raise the voice of the people in the House, on the streets and before everyone,” he posted on X.