Reform, perform & transform: Modi on five years of NDA govt

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, February 10

Curtains fell on the 17th Lok Sabha with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday capping off his second term in power as a period of game-changing reforms that ended generations of wait for tasks such as abrogation of Article 370, construction of Ram Temple and criminalisation of triple talaq.

Exuding confidence in what he described as “five years of reform, perform and transform”, the PM said the upcoming elections will “stun the world” even as he hailed the BJP government’s tenure as one of “historic reforms” that made the world sit up and take note of India.

Curtains on 17th LS

• Constituted on May 25, 2019, first sitting held on June 17, 2019
• Clocked 97% overall productivity, highest in past five Lok Sabhas
• 274 sittings held over 1,354 hours; lowest for any full-term govt
• 387 hours lost to disruptions; 222 Bills passed

“The journey of India and Indian democracy is eternal. This country exists for a reason, for humanity. Sri Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda saw that but today we witness their vision being realised by the way the world is accepting India’s majesty and capacity. We have to keep powering this journey,” PM Modi said, listing women’s reservation Bill, criminalisation of triple talaq, abrogation of Article 370, replacement of colonial-era penal code, decriminalisation of over 180 provisions, anti-cheating law, legislations to curb terrorism and empower the transgender community as principal highlights of NDA 2.

Game-changing steps initiated

This tenure saw game-changing reforms that will lay the foundations of the 21st century India. Country has moved fast towards a major transformation. —Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi in attendance, Modi patted his government’s back for accomplishing tasks that had remained undone for centuries. “Generations of wait of people for many tasks ended… Generations dreamed of one Constitution and rued the presence of a divisive provision that marred its character. But 17th Lok Sabha abrogated Article 370 from J&K restoring the Indian Constitution to its pristine glory,” PM said, adding the protective shield of social justice had finally extended to J&K.

On the Ram Mandir issue too, Modi fired salvos at the Congress, saying the Lok Sabha resolution adopted on the subject on Saturday would “give strength to future generations to take pride in Indian values.”

“Not everyone has the courage to pilot such resolutions. Some have the gumption while others flee… but when the future generations assess today’s records (LS’ Ram Mandir resolution) they will see sensitivity, sympathy and a sense of ‘sabka saath, sabka vishwas’ in this move,” the PM said, advocating minimum possible interference in the lives of people.

He said the faster the government exited from day-to-day lives of common people through minimum governance, the healthier it would be for the Indian democracy. Without mentioning his predecessor Rajiv Gandhi for overturning the apex court ruling that had protected a Muslim woman’s right to alimony after divorce, the PM said the 17th Lok Sabha corrected that historical wrong.

Resolution on Ram Temple adopted

The LS adopted a resolution on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, with Speaker Om Birla describing its construction a historic achievement, noting it will give the values of hope and unity to future generations. The resolution was adopted after a four-hour discussion on “the construction of historic Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlalla”