A combative Prime Minister Narendra Modi ripped into the opposition Monday – taking special aim at the Congress – ahead of a general election due in less than three months, declaring the party “would have taken 100 more years” to achieve what his BJP had done in the past 10 years.

“Our goals are big and the world is seeing that. The pace at which work is progressing in India… Congress can’t even imagine it. We built four crore houses for poor people… 80 lakh pukka houses. It would’ve taken 100 years for Congress to get this work done…” the Prime Minister said.

Responding to the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s speech last week, Prime Minister Modi fired a series of sharp jibes and jabs – met with cheers and thumping of desks by his MPs – at the Congress, which he held “responsible for the state of the opposition today”.

“They (the Congress) failed and didn’t allow other parties to perform… They have ruined Parliament, the opposition, and the country. I believe the country needs a strong opposition,” he said, as he taunted his rivals for having “lost the will to fight…” “They will sit there for more time to come.”

Mr Modi also took a dig at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi – who remains the de facto prime ministerial face of his party despite two consecutive Lok Sabha election defeats – and his “mohabbat ki dukaan” slogan. “They are trying to launch one product again and again…” he chuckled.

The Prime Minister also attacked former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, declaring the Congress had “never trusted India’s potential”. “Nehru said, ‘In India there is no habit of working hard (like) Europeans, Americans.’ This shows Nehru belittled Indians…” Mr Modi declared.

Mr Modi’s attacks on the Congress are significant given the party is, nominally, the head of the INDIA bloc formed in July last year, which is supposed to unite the opposition in a bid to defeat the BJP.

The INDIA bloc, however, has struggled to overcome seat-sharing problems, with key members – like the Trinamool, the AAP, and the Samajwadi Party, challenging the Congress citing the national party’s abysmal record in recent elections. In fact, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – seen as a founding member of INDIA – last month walked out of the grouping and re-aligned with the BJP

Exuding confidence, the Prime Minister began his speech with taunts aimed at an opposition that has, by and large, failed to beat his BJP in elections over the past decade. “… can say it is clear they will sit there (gesturing to the opposition benches) for more time to come,” he chuckled.

“I can see many in the opposition have lost hope… strength to even fight elections. I’ve heard many want to go to Rajya Sabha instead of Lok Sabha. The President’s address is, in a way, based on facts and truth… and is a big proof of reality that is presented in front of people,” the Prime Minister said.

“Look at the Congress’ situation. (Congress chief Mallikarjun) Kharge had to move the House and (former leader) Ghulam Nabi Azad had to leave the party,” he continued

The PM also exploded in anger when an opposition MP complained the President’s speech did not mention minorities. “According to you women and farmers are not minorities? Till when will you keep dividing society?”

Don 3 is one of the most highly anticipated movies. There is great excitement to witness Ranveer Singh’s performance in the film as he takes over from Shah Rukh Khan. It has been disclosed that the actor will commence filming for Farhan Akhtar’s directorial in August this year. Allegedly, the pre-production for the movie will kick off in March, promising some “surprises” for fans in the upcoming Don movie.

A source recently said in a report by a leading entertainment portal that the movie is currently in the process of casting. It is confirmed that the pre-production of Don 3 will begin next month. Filming for the movie will then begin in August of this year. The first two Don movies had unexpected twists, and it is rumoured that Don 3 will also have some surprises for the audience.

Farhan Akhtar surprised everyone last year when he released a teaser for Don 3, officially announcing that Ranveer Singh will be portraying the new Don. The teaser began in an apartment with a stunning city skyline in the background, accompanied by Ranveer Singh’s voiceover saying, “Sher jo so raha hain woh jagega kab, puchte hai yeh sab. Unse keh do phir jaag utha hoon main, aur phir samne jald aane ko…”

At the same time, there is a possibility that Kiara Advani will take over the role of Priyanka Chopra in Don 3, although there has been no official announcement about this yet.

See Also: Ranveer Singh acknowledges criticisms around Don 3, compares it to Daniel Craig’s James Bond casting 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, launched a sharp attack at the Opposition and the INDIA bloc in his last Parliament speech ahead of the national elections scheduled for this year. “The Congress’ shop on verge of closure in its attempt to launch same product again and again,” he said in a swipe at Rahul Gandhi.

“The alignment of alliance is ruined, PM Modi’s swipe at INDIA bloc,” PM Modi said about the INDIA bloc

President Droupadi Murmu had addressed the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 31, the first day of the Budget Session.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a three-line whip to all its MPs in Lok Sabha to be present in the Lower House on the fourth day of the ongoing Budget Session.

The last session before Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year will be spread over eight sittings spread over a period of 10 days and may conclude on February 9.

Here are the live updates on the Parliament’s Budget Session: