When People Mock Swacch Campaign It Hurts, It Is No Joke, Says PM Modi: Highlights

New Delhi: In his reply to the Presidential Address in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today strongly defended government's ban on high denomination currency in November, saying it has no parallel in the world and could even be the subject of a "case study at universities". In the hour-long speech, the Prime Minister also took on the opposition, targetting his predecessor Manmohan Singh in a remark that triggered a walkout by the Congress, which is numerically strong in the upper house. The BJP had issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members, asking them to remain present for the Prime Minister's address.

Here are the highlights of PM Narendra Modi's speech in Rajya Sabha:

• Most of the discussion has been around demonetisation
• Can't deny that this vice has come to our country
• We can't deny it has affected our economy. So, the fight against corruption and black money is not political
• This fight is not against any political party, but it is out prerogative in the house to discuss and solve it
• The worst hit are poor, the rights of middle class have been snatched
• We should know that in our country, after notes ban, the efforts to loot banks and take out new notes happened in Jammu and Kashmir
• Because the day to day dealings were affected. And the notes were recovered from terrorists killed later
• The honest will not be empowered till the dishonest are punished
• We are going to empower the honest and that's our clear aim
• A committee was formed on black money and during Indira Gandhi's regime they submit their report, But Indiraji said we have to fight elections... this is Madhav Godbol's book
• When the book was published, you should have seen it then. What were you doing till now? Were you sleeping? If I was you, I would have filed a case against Mr Godbol.
• Black money, counterfeit notes, drugs and other illegal businesses have spread across.
• The counterfeit notes were done with the day of notes ban. The reserve bank will search for notes which were stolen from a bank or two
• People producing counterfeit currency had to commit suicide
• In 40 days, 700 Maoist surrendered. This is unprecedented
• 500 and 1,000 notes were printed and circulated widely
• When the banks have gotten so much money, and in high denominations, their power to lend has increased
• Tea garden workers were given bank accounts and salaries through digital means. Their condition has improved
• There is no parallel to demonetisation in the world. Economists world over, thus, don't have any info on this. This could be a case study at universities
• There is a horizontal divide- on one side are the people of India & Government and on the other side are a group of political leaders
• We can say to the world that out 1.2 billion people, may be uneducated, but are working to fight vices/evil
• Dr Manmohan Singh ji - is the former prime minister and is a respected leader. He has had a direct relation with the economy with last 35 years
• This is the first time in history that a person had such an influence on the economy. And during the time, so many scams. But not even a blot over his image, Congress leaders should learn from him
• Bathing with a raincoat on is a skill only he knows
• When such a tall leader spoke of loot and plunder, he should have thought of this own side. We have the strength to reply in their language
• To fight the evils within ourselves, the will of our country has been shaky. Now, the world will know how we think
• Always thought Sitaram and his party will support us on demonetisation
• Jyotirmay Basu had tabled a bill and fought over this in 1972
• Surjitji also spoke of notes ban in 1982. He said - Indira Gandhi is alive on black money, her politics is alive because of black money. This report has not been acted upon, but was also kept hidden for 12 years
• Nobody says every corner of the country is digitised. But the mindset has to change. The country has to move towards a less cash economy
• I am amazed that Anand Sharma said this on digital economy. Korea gives massive incentives to go digital... and he says we should not spend crores on digital
• We are working to fulfil the little aspirations of people.Direct benefit has streamlined 50,000 crores for people
• After notes ban, digital transactions were enabled at petrol pumps, toll booth and through RFIDs - this will save so much petrol
• Almost 29-30 per cent people are now using digital means. We have to prepare for more to adopt the same
• There is no reason why RBI or its governor should be dragged into this. We should keep it away from controversies. The Reserve Bank's respect should be upheld
• The ex-Governor of RBI, Mr Subaroy, has written a book. He said - liquidity management is a function of RBI.
• The RBI levels had serious charges against the previous government. What we have done is strengthened the RBI
• No government comes to sleep. Even the last government did not
• I spoke from the ramparts of Red Fort that all PMs, government have a contribution to get where India is today. No other PM has said that
• We started self-attestation for interview forms. No interviews - reducing corruption
• Many neutral newspapers have written good articles on people being selected on merit basis
• Registering companies used to take months, it's done now within 24 hours. Same for passports, issued within days
• The last elections were fought on the agenda of 9 or 12 subsidised cylinder. Now, over 1,65,000 new gas connections have been given to poor families
• Rs 6,000 for each poor pregnant woman; Beti bacho; women empowerment - 50,000 crores; a program for children vaccination
• Cleanliness or Swacchta was being mocked. I want to thank the media that they highlighted the Swacchta program. They went two steps ahead of politicians. I thank them.
• When people mock Swaccht campaigns it hurts, it's not a joke
• If farmers have to be protected, we will have to link their incomes with insurance. They are dependent on the nature, we need to protect them in case the crops are spoiled
• New fertilizer policy, Neem coating - has helped the land and disrupted Urea's black market
• Record production of pulses this year.100 FDI in food processing so the farmers are benefited
• Swacchta should be a mass movement
• Most political parties have had the fortune to serve/ rule some areas - be it through a zila, civic body or a state. Compete among each other for cleanliness
• Children should wash hands and sleep, we all know that but people make excuses that there's no water etc
• Cross-state competitions, language sharing for ek Bharat shresht Bharat
• I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.