First time no foreign attempt made since 2014 to stoke trouble before Parliament session: PM Modi

New Delhi: As MPs converged for the Budget Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a swipe at the Opposition saying there was no attempt from abroad to stoke trouble in India before the start of a Parliament Session for the first time in the last ten years.

In his customary address to the media just ahead of the start of the session, Modi also said the session and the Budget would create a “new confidence” and give “new energy” to the resolution of a developed India by 2047 while important decisions will be taken to empower women to ensure they get equal rights and any sectarian or faith-based discrimination is removed.

However towards the end of his 12-minute address, he said, “This is probably the first Session since 2014 when there was no ‘videshi chingari’ (foreign interference) and no attempts to stoke fire from abroad have been made. I have been noticing since 2014 that there has been no shortage of individuals willing to stir up trouble and escalate issues.”

The Prime Minister did not mention any particular instance but the ruling BJP in the past had raised foreign media reports on Pegasus, Rafale deal Adani Group and Hindenburg among others to accuse the Opposition of playing into foreign hands.

The Opposition had sought to corner the Modi government, charging it with corruption in the Rafale deal and illegally helping the Adani Group to further its business. It had also earlier accused the government of using an Israeli spyware Pegasus to snoop on Opposition leaders, judges, ministers, businesspersons, journalists and activists among others.

It was also not impressed with Modi’s remarks with senior Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra saying that Modi would talk like that as he wants to divert attention. “He always tries to divert attention. He never responds to issues. You have seen the last session, which did not function,” she told reporters.

Congress Lok Sabha Whip Manickam Tagore said Modi who called Parliament a “mandir” has "insulted” it. “Crores of people have sent MPs to Parliament to raise their problems and aspirations and the Prime Minister has called it foreign interference. He has set a negative agenda for the session,” he said.

During the Budget session, Modi said, “I hope that we will live up to the hopes and aspirations of the country in this Budget session...This is a golden opportunity especially for the young MPs because their increased participation would mean more fruits of a developed India.”

He said innovation, inclusion and investment have always been the foundation of India's economic strategy and as in the past, many significant bills would be brought in Parliament during the session.

“People have given me responsibility for the third time. This is the first full budget of my third term. I can confidently tell this budget will give new energy, assuring that the country will be developed by 2047. In our third term, we are moving forward with the resolve of all-round development of the country in a mission mode,” he said.

“Mother Lakshmi gives us success and wisdom. It also gives prosperity and well-being. I pray that Goddess Lakshmi's special blessings be upon every poor and middle-class community of the country. Today, at the beginning of the Budget Session, I bow to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. And on such occasions, the virtues of Goddess Lakshmi have been remembered in our country for centuries,” he added.