SHAH WANTS ABSENT MPs TO ANSWER

A day after the Modi government faced embarrassment in Parliament when a united Opposition managed to push some changes to a Constitution amendment Bill on backward classes, BJP president Amit Shah sought an explanation from party MPs, who were missing from the Rajya Sabha despite a whip being issued.

At the BJP parliamentary party meeting, sources said Mr Shah took a serious view of party MPs missing House proceedings.

Mr Shah also wondered if the absentee MPs should be “named” as Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the party leadership has on numerous occasions urged the party members to regularly attend House proceedings. Even Mr Modi, it was learnt, inquired on Friday night regarding the MPs who were missing Parliament.

“When the party issues a whip, members must be present in the House,” Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said after the meeting.

A day after the Modi government faced embarassment in Parliament when a united Opposition managed to push some changes to a Constitution amendment Bill on backward classes, BJP president Amit Shah sought an explanation from party MPs, who were missing from the Rajya Sabha despite a whip being issued.

Nearly 31 NDA MPs, including 13 BJP members were absent when the House was taking up the bill. Three Union ministers had already informed the party that they would not be able to attend the House proceedings. I&B minister Smriti Irani was in Gujarat, where some districts are facing floods, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman is not in the country and sports minister Vijay Goel has been admitted to AIIMS with a chest infection. Mr Modi could not attend as he was in Assam to review the flood situation.

Mr Shah also accused the Congress of “conspiring” to derail the Constitution amendment bill on backward classes.