Namo's Sweet Revenge: Quake jibe at Rahul; 'Raincoat' mock at Dr Manmohan Singh

Not someone to take things lying down, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today carefully made use of his glib talk ability and took dig at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi by making optimum use of last night's earthquake in parts of north India. 
"......finally the earthquake came. I was wondering why the quake came. A threat of earthquake was given a long time ago. There must be some reason that Mother Earth was also angry," Mr Modi said in his signature style beginning his reply to the debate on Motion of Thanks to President's address in the Lok Sabha. 
Mr Modi said, "Yesterday there was an earthquake. We will do whatever we can to aid those affected. The Centre is in touch with the states".

Perfect Timing

The Prime Minister began his speech with taking potshots at Mr Gandhi, who had in December during winter session of Parliament accused the government of running away from a debate and has said "There would be an earthquake if they allow me to speak."
Referring to last night's quake at Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand and other parts of North India, Prime Minister told the House amidst thumping of desks by treasury bench members:  "This only shows that when people link scam to national service, not only mother, even Mother Earth gets disturbed and thus comes the tremor".

The Prime Minister also said in December during winter session of Parliament, the Opposition parties did not allow smooth functioning because everyone seemed to think that the long queues in front of banks and ATMs after demonetisation could result in some major problems in the country.

Mr Gandhi's reference to "earthquake" is understood to be linked to Prime Minister's name allegedly figuring in the Sahara and Birla diaries.
However, the episode of ''ill-gotten payment'' vis-a-vis diary controversy was almost laid to rest after a Supreme Court ruling.
Mr Modi defended his government's decision on demonetisation and said it will be wrong to suggest - as was alleged by Opposition parties - that his government had not done enough home work before making the major announcement of ban on high value currency notes.
At this when a number of Opposition parties tried to question him, Mr Modi said almost in tongue-in-cheek fashion, "iske liye aap ko Modi ka adhyan karna hoga (''For this you will have to study Modi more closely)". 
He said, "Don’t think that such a step can be taken in haste. The time was carefully chosen as it came after Diwali festival and the economy was strong".
After Diwali, Mr Modi said, there was a period of lull in normal trade and commerce. "So I utilised the time calculating that things will be alright in 50 days. And I can now see things happening as per my calculations,'' the Prime Minister asserted only to leave the Opposition members annoyed.
Mr Modi also wondered why in 1988 when the Benami Transactions law was enacted, the then Rajiv Gandhi government with majority in both the Houses of Parliament did not notify the same.
"In 1988, Rajiv Gandhi had majority in both Houses of Parliament. Congress controlled panchayat to Parliament all across, but what had made the then government not notify the law....," he said adding, "it will be interesting to know, who all thought that more than the law, suppressing its implementation will be more beneficial".

Once a Powerful Duo

On Feb 8, 2017, Modi directed his tirade against MMS

With one sentence, Modi virtually exposed "country's most underestimated politician.....and an overestimated economist"

Modi took a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and described him as an expert in taking bath with a raincoat on. The reference was on Dr Singh - remained untainted even when his government was allegedly ‘neck deep’ in corruption.

Politicians could learn from Dr Singh how to maintain a clean image even after 35 long years of public life dotted with scams under his stewardship, Modi said, "Bathroom mein raincoat pehen ke nahna....yeh kala doctor sahab (Dr MMS) sirf jante haen"

The unusually sharp attack by the Prime Minister for his predecessor predictably evoked furious response from Congress members, who first almost trooped into the Well in Rajya Sabha and later staged a walkout in protest, rejecting the kind of language used for the former prime minister. 
         As calm returned to the House with Opposition benches being empty, Modi resumed his attack, saying that when a person who was holding such a post used the words like "loot" and "plunder", he should also have courage to listen its response.

ends