PM Modi takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi, says earthquake has finally occurred

Remarks follow Gandhi's quip that if he exposed Modi there would be an earthquake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi saying "finally earthquake has hit". The remarks came as Gandhi had threatened to expose Modi and said there will be an earthquake.

Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha, Modi said, "Bhukamp aa hi gaya, koi to kaaran hoga, dharti maa rooth gayi hongi. Aakhir bhukamp aaya kyun, jab koi SCAM mein bhi seva, namrata ka bhaav dekhta hai to dharti maa bhi dukhi ho jaati hai aur bhukamp aata hai. (Finally earthquake has occurred. There must be a reason that Mother India was angry. When someone sees service and virtue in scam then earthquake is bound to hit."

Addressing a joint rally in Kanpur, Gandhi had said that for him SCAM stands for service, courage, ability and modesty.

In a point to point rebuttal to the Congress, Modi said, "There is something very special about 'Jan Shakti'. We remember how democracy was under threat from 1975 to 1977, when opposition leaders were jailed, newspaper freedom curtailed. It is due to this 'Jan Shakti' that the person born to a poor family can become the Prime Minister of India."

Kharge had in Lok Sabha on Monday said, “If Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister despite his poor background, it is because we preserved democracy.” 

Hitting out at the Opposition for not letting discussion on demonetisation in Parliament, Modi said, "From day one, we have been clear- we are ready for a discussion on demonetisation but some were more keen on TV bytes and not debates."

"Like Swachh Bharat, the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India (from corruption and black money). When can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. The economy was doing well and thus our decision was taken at the right time," Modi said.

Modi also questioned Congress why Benami law passed during late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's tenure in 1988 was not notified for 26 years.