Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led opposition, accusing them of enabling illegal infiltration, disrupting Parliament, and perpetuating past failures like the Indus Waters Treaty, during his speech. PM Modi defended his government’s reforms, including GST and income tax simplifications, while seeking opposition support for a united push toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047, all while praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its century-long service, drawing sharp criticism from Congress.

PM Modi warned of a “premeditated conspiracy” to alter India’s demography through illegal infiltration, claiming “ghuspaithiye” (intruders) threaten youth livelihoods, women’s safety, and tribal lands. He announced a high-powered demography mission to counter this, stating, “This country will not tolerate this.” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called PM Modi’s speech “stale, hypocritical,” and his RSS praise a “breach” of secular principles, hinting at PM Modi’s upcoming 75th birthday as a motive. Posts on X echoed this divide, with some lauding PM Modi’s resolve and others decrying his rhetoric as divisive.

Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, PM Modi accused past Congress governments of “strangling” the Constitution, urging future generations to remember this “sin” and strengthen constitutional commitment. He also criticized the Indus Waters Treaty as “unjust,” noting it diverts India’s river waters to “enemy” fields while Indian farmers suffer. PM Modi declared that India will now reserve its waters for its farmers, signaling a policy shift.

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Addressing opposition criticism on GST, dubbed the “Gabbar Singh Tax,” PM Modi announced next-generation GST reforms starting this Diwali to provide tax relief, alongside the abolition of over 280 Income Tax Act sections to simplify laws. He accused past Congress regimes of stalling semiconductor initiatives 50-60 years ago, contrasting this with his government’s push for self-reliance, including six new semiconductor units. Ramesh countered, citing the 1983 establishment of Semiconductors Complex Limited in Chandigarh as evidence of Congress’s early efforts.

PM Modi emphasized justice for backward communities and regions, invoking Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s principles to prioritize transparent policies for their upliftment. He lauded Operation Sindoor’s success and India’s global rise, dismissing opposition narratives aligning with foreign critics like U.S. President Donald Trump, who called India a “dead economy.” Inviting opposition collaboration on structural, regulatory, and constitutional reforms, PM Modi stressed, “I am doing everything for the country, not for myself.”

The speech, one of PM Modi’s longest at 103 minutes, sparked polarized reactions. Supporters on X hailed his vision for self-reliance, while critics accused him of polarizing rhetoric and historical revisionism. As India navigates these contentious issues, PM Modi’s call for unity faces challenges amid deepening political divides.

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