New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the repeated disruptions of parliamentary proceedings, stating that due to the turmoil in the House, the country has been unable to listen to the talented MPs elected in recent times.
Modi said this during a breakfast meeting with over 40 MPs from NDA constituents Nationalist Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India (Athawale), Rashtriya Lok Morcha, AIADMK and UPPL.
While 20 Lok Sabha members had left the TMC and joined the little-known NCPI in June, as many as six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs deserted that party and joined the Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, taking Shiv Sena’s numbers to 13 in the Lower House.
The NCPI has joined the NDA and the Shiv Sena continues to be a constituent of the ruling alliance.
The Muslim MPs of the NCPI – Khalilur Rahaman, Yusuf Pathan and Abu Taher Khan – who skipped the NDA parliamentary party meeting ‘Mangal Milan’ twice also attended the breakfast meeting. They had separately met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday.
Those who attended the breakfast meeting with the prime minister included RPI (Athawale) chief and Union minister Ramdas Athawale, Rashtriya Lok Morcha president and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha, AIADMK leader M Thambi Durai, who is a Rajya Sabha member, and UPPL chief and Rajya Sabha member Pramod Boro.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda and BJP president Nitin Nabin were also present at the breakfast, which was a vegetarian affair along with desserts like payosh (kheer).
NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said they were “overwhelmed” seeing the prime minister’s knowledge, the way he treated them.
“The prime minister said those who are with the NDA for the last 20 years or even one year are all family members. He said we will work hard for the development of West Bengal and the eight northeastern states. We all will work together. This is a very good message he has given to us, we all will work together,” she told reporters at the Parliament House complex.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Jyoti Waghmare said Modi emphasised on smooth functioning of Parliament and expressed concern over the repeated disruptions by the opposition protests.
“The prime minister said due to the disruption in Parliament, the country could not listen to the talented and new MPs. He said the country’s issues should be discussed in Parliament,” he said.
NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the prime minister asked the MPs to do yoga regularly for maintaining good health.
“The PM asked who amongst us do yoga. He asked us to get a health checkup done every week. He spoke about development of eastern and Northeastern region,” he said.
Another NCPI MP Satabdi Roy said the prime minister welcomed all of them and interacted with each of the MPs present at the breakfast.
“The prime minister emphasised what needs to be done and spoke how MPs can contribute effectively to nation-building,” he said.
Roy said Modi advised that those who crossed the age of 40 should practice yoga regularly and health check-up every year.
Modi is also learnt to have told told the MPs that they should not worry about their needs for the development of their respective constituencies.
“I am with you. The NDA is a family. We stand with our constituent parties,” he is learnt to have told the MPs.
Modi also reportedly said that he stood not only with the NDA members but with every MP.
On Wednesday, he had hosted a breakfast meeting with 37 BJP MPs, including the BJP president and some AAP leaders who had joined the party.
During that meeting too, he had stressed that Parliament must function smoothly and without any disruption, besides sharing his experience in public life and offered guidance on how seriously MPs should take Parliament.
Since the Monsoon session began on July 20, Lok Sabha proceedings have been repeatedly disrupted by opposition protests. Six bills have been passed without discussion amid din.
The opposition parties initially protested over the NEET paper leaks and alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. They later pressed for a discussion on police action against students protesting over the NEET paper leak and also demanded the presence of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and their statements.
Meanwhile, the government is making a fresh attempt for passage of a Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and redraw the Lok Sabha constituencies to increase its numbers to 816 in the ongoing monsoon session by reaching out to principal opposition party Congress and NDA allies, nearly four months after a similar effort failed due to lack of numbers.
Last time, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fell short of the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha, with 298 members voting in favour against 230 opposing it.
The government’s numbers have since improved marginally. The NDA’s strength in Lok Sabha now stands at 299 following the merger of seven Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Among the 20 NCPI MPs, three Muslim law makers remained non-committal about their allegiance towards NDA. However, in the eventuality of all 20 voting in favour of the bill, the government has assured the support of 319 votes.
But it is still well short of the 360 votes required to pass a constitutional amendment based on the current effective strength of the House.
PM, HM available for discussion, says Rijiju
New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused the opposition of deliberately not allowing Parliament to function, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah remain present throughout the day and are available for discussions.
The minister added that despite the logjam, legislative business is continuing and bills are being passed.
The remarks came amid continued adjournments of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha due to relentless protests by the opposition over student issues and the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Rijiju said the opposition is preventing the House from functioning while alleging that the government is avoiding a debate.
“Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah remain present in Parliament since morning and leave only in the evening. It is the opposition that is not allowing the House to function while raising slogans outside. That is not correct,” Rijiju told reporters.
He said the government has continued to transact business and pass bills, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, where discussions have taken place despite protests by opposition members.
“We are passing bills and conducting House business. In the Rajya Sabha, bills are being passed after proper discussion. Congress and one or two of its allies may be walking out or creating a ruckus, but members are participating in debates and expressing their views,” he said.
The parliamentary affairs minister claimed the continued disruptions are hurting the Congress more than the government, particularly its first-time MPs who are losing opportunities to speak in Parliament.
“It is the Congress that is suffering. Some of its new MPs are not getting an opportunity to speak. Who is suffering because of this? Their own MPs,” he said.
Rijiju said the government has already taken “revolutionary” steps to curb examination paper leaks and accused the opposition of repeatedly staging protests over the same issue.
“The issue is over. The country is moving ahead. The prime minister has taken revolutionary decisions on examination paper leaks. But every morning they create drama over the same issue and continue raising slogans. They also do drama and insult Lord Ram,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing deadlock, Rijiju said he has been in touch with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders to find a way forward.
“I had a good discussion with Rahul Gandhi and requested him on one issue. We have discussed other issues as well.
“We want to continue talking to the Congress and other opposition parties and work in coordination. We are political opponents, not enemies. We should work together in the national interest,” he said.
The BJP leader, however, alleged that the opposition is creating an impression that it will not allow Parliament to function at all.
“They are trying to create an impression outside that they will not allow Parliament to function. Who will suffer because of that? Their own members,” he said.
Rejecting the opposition’s allegation that Shah is absent from Parliament, Rijiju said the home minister has been present in Parliament every day and is available to participate in discussions.
