Third term a mandate for speed, continuity: Modi

PM says working on war footing to curb paper leaks, guilty won't be spared

- ARCHIS MOHAN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the historic third successive term for his government was a mandate for speed and continuity. He vowed that his administration would operate with triple the speed over the next five years, propelling India to the "next level" of development and fulfilling the ambition of "Viksit Bharat", a developed India, by 2047.

In his reply to the debate on the President's address, Modi in the Lok Sabha said the government was working on a "war footing" to combat the incidents of paper leaks, ensuring that those who jeopardise the futures of young Indians would not escape justice. The debate, which unfurled over two days in the Lok Sabha, saw the Opposition demanding accountability from the government over allegations of leaks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and other examinations.

Modi's speech, which spanned two hours and 14 minutes, was punctuated by the din of protest from the Opposition's INDIA bloc members, who stormed the Well of the House, chanting slogans and demanding "justice for Manipur." The sole intermission in their protests came when Modi expressed his condolences for the loss of over 100 lives in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh.

The PM reflected on the past decade, highlighting the dedication with which his government had served the people. "In our third term, we will work with triple the speed, will put in thrice the strength, and will ensure three times the results," he said.