NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a veiled attack at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi saying those 'slinging mud on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will help the lotus bloom even more,' referring to the saffron party's election symbol - the lotus. He was replying to the motion of thanks for the President's policy address in the Rajya Sabha.

While the opposition raised slogans of 'Modi Adani Bhai Bhai' from the beginning, Modi said that he has the strength to face everything single-handedly and that opposition slogans are useless.

"The nation is observing how one person is powerfully confronting many. I am living for my country. I am grateful for all the kichad (muck) being thrown at me. After all, a 'lotus' blooms only in kichad. So, I don't mind if more is thrown at me. Those slinging mud on us will help the 'lotus' bloom even more," he said.

"People have rejected Congress repeatedly. Congress was not able to resolve any problems even after ruling from panchayat to parliament. The potholes on the roads are their only contribution in the 60 years. Although they said 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove poverty), they did nothing. Projects were limited to celebrations. Now they are spreading lies. They insulted Indian scientists who developed indigenous covid vaccines," he said.

"Look at the history, which party and people in power misused Article 356 the most? Elected governments were toppled 90 times, who were those who did that? A Prime minister used Article 356 fifty times, and scored a half-century and that name is Indira Gandhi. In Kerala Communist government was elected which wasn't liked by Pandit Nehru and was toppled. In Tamil Nadu too, governments of veterans like MGR and Karunanidhi were dismissed by Congress people. Sharad Pawar's government was toppled too. We have seen what happened with NTR when he was in the US for treatment and attempts were made to topple his government. This was the level of Congress' politics. They troubled every regional leader," he added.

PM Modi also took potshots at Nehru-Gandhi family over several schemes and places named after their members and asked "why people from their generation don't keep Nehru as their surname".

"Some had problems with the names of schemes of govt and Sanskrit words in the names. I read in a report that 600 government schemes were in the Gandhi-Nehru family's name...I don't understand why people from their generation don't keep Nehru as their surname, what's the fear & shame?" he said.