PM Modi's speech in Rajya Sabha: As it happened

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the Rajya Sabha while replying on the Motion of Thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address and appealed to the lawmakers to pass all pending bills. The Congress party had earlier issued a whip asking all its MPs to be present in the Upper House during PM  Modi's speech.

Here are the updates:-

-PM Modi concludes his speech.

-PM Narendra Modi recites 'Safar Mein Dhoop To Hogi" by Nida Fazli before concluding his speech.

-Due to lack of cleanliness the poor are forced to spend more money on medicines: PM

-Cleanliness helps the poor the most: PM

-For first time Parliament debated on it. Govt may be criticised but issue is being discussed: PM

-Cleanliness is becoming a mass movement. PM

-Our focus is on job creation, new start-ups: PM

-We have emphasised on "value addition": PM

-We should aim to double the income of farmers by 2022: PM Modi

-I am not an economist like Manmohan Singh, that's why I am not as knowledgeable as him, but I certainly some things: PM

-The biggest beneficiaries of MUDRA bank are SC/ST, OBC communities and women: PM

-There are two types of people in the world, one who work and the other who take credit for the work: PM Modi

-We have moved up in all sectors, Moody's have given us positive ratings: PM Modi   

-Effective or last mile delivery is what we are working on: PM.

-Govt is ensuring that benefit of subsidy goes only to those deserving, it is not issue of saving money, says PM.

-Opposition is examining my govt through microscope, wish it had done the same during its own rule: PM

-I am grateful to GN Azad, he brought a record of people who didn't have accounts under Jan Dhan Yojna: PM

-PM asks Congress to give tickets to uneducated candidates in upcoming Assembly polls.

-I am reviewing infrastructure projects. Some of these projects have been stalled for decades: PM

-We are focussing on accountability: PM

-Decentralisation is the third aspect of Good Governance: PM

-Transparency is the hallmark of good governance, says PM

-We have focussed on policy-driven governance and given importance to transparency: PM

-Passage of all pending bills will give momentum to country's progress: PM

-We need to move from incremental improvement to quantum jump: PM

-Nation is waiting for us to pass many Bills: PM

-This is a Chamber of Ideas and it must guide the nation. Coordination between both Houses is essential: PM

-We need to worry about the lack of educational facilities and overcome several such challenges that come our way: PM

-PM Narendra Modi talks about importance of education in Rajya Sabha

-Congress never gets a bad name: PM

-Sometimes I feel Congress has a boon like that. Its always said "attack on Opposition", never said "attack on Congress": PM

-There is a funny thing about "death", no one blames death. they blame the reason why people die: PM

-I appeal to allow the Parliament to function smoothly: PM

-I am glad that over 300 amendments were passed during this period: PM.

-Its commendable how the House has taken President Mukherjee's advice seriously and ensured that the House is not stalled: PM.

- You must have noticed that LS worked till late night yesterday, even after that everyone was happy with the work that happened: PM

- I thank the Opposition for allowing debate in Parliament.

-PM Modi thanks all those MPs for participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks in Rajya Sabha.

-PM address the Rajya Sabha.

-Lok Sabha adjourned till 2:10 pm.

-Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm as protests over Sri Sri's event continues.

-Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar evades question on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's event.

-Opposition MPs raise slogans ''Don't misuse Army, protect us''.

-Uproar continues in Rajya Sabha over Sri Sri's event, Opposition MPs protest at the Well of House.

-Will the matter be decided here or at Green Court? Asks Jaitley.

-If a matter is pending with Tribunal, ordinarily chair doesn't allow issue to be raised here: Arun Jaitley

-It would be wrong to doubt his commitment towards nature: Naqvi.

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is committed towards protecting environment: Naqvi.

-NGT is hearing the matter as we discuss the issue here: Naqvi.

-Event (Sri Ravi Shankar's) is being held adhering to all rules and laws: MA Naqvi replies in RS.

-It's highly irregular that the Army is used to build bridges for a private event: Yechury

-Left leader Sitamram Yechury asks, "How can Indian Army assist in this?"

-Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's event on the banks of the Yamuna.

-Pathankot attack was on India and not on Punjab: Mann.

-AAP MP Bhagwant Mann says Centre should treat Punjab as a part of India.

-AAP MP Bhagwant Mann moves adjournment motion in LS on Centre demanding 6 cr from Punjab Govt as expenditure on deployment during Pathankot attack.

-BJP Parliamentary Party meet underway in the Parliament.

-Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address in Rajya Sabha today at 2 pm.

-BJP Parliamentary Party meet begins in the Parliament.

-PM Narendra Modi arrives for BJP Parliamentary Party meet in the Parliament.

The Prime Minister had earlier made his reply in the Lok Sabha and after that, the motion was adopted in the house.

Intervening in the debate on the Motion of Thanks, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had yesterday claimed that during the last two years of NDA regime, there was not a single case of corruption.

He said that corruption now is not a matter of core concern.

He told opposition parties that the government is trying to bring black money stashed away in foreign banks, but could not reveal the names, unless through the judicial process.

He said, if the names are made public, it would only help those violators.

The Finance Minister suggested opposition parties should eschew obstructionism and join hands with the government for the development of the nation while countering Rahul Gandhi's attack over issues related to intolerance, inflation and foreign policy.