Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the eyes of the world are on India and there is confidence that the country will contribute to the betterment of the planet.
"The eyes of the world are on India. There are expectations from India and there is confidence that India will contribute to the betterment of our planet," PM Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, in the Rajya Sabha.
"India has seen days when there was a large threat of polio, smallpox. Nobody knew whether India will get a vaccine or how many people will get it. From those days, we're now here, when our nation is making vaccines for world. This increases our self-confidence," he added.
The Prime Minister also said that the coronavirus period has added new strength to the federal structure and the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Taking a dig at TMC MP Derek O'Brien, PM Modi said, "I was listening to Derek ji, he had chosen good words - Freedom of Speech, Intimidation. When I was listening to him, I was wondering if he is talking about Bengal or the country. He sees all this for 24 hours, so he might have said the same here too."
Notably, TMC MPs staged a walkout as Prime Minister Modi began his reply in Rajya Sabha.
The President makes a special address on a statement of government policy that has to be approved by the Cabinet. Discussion on the matters referred to in the President's Address takes place on a motion of thanks moved by a member and seconded by another member.
