Miffed over absent BJP MPs, Modi issues warning
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulled up on Tuesday BJP MPs for skipping Parliament proceedings following incidents of lack of quorum and even warned that he will keep a tab on them by calling any member any time during the session.
Modi’s tough talk to his party MPs at the weekly BJP Parliamentary Party meeting came following frequent delay in start of work in the two Houses due to lack of quorum – the minimum number of members needed for valid proceedings.
“I can call any of you any time,” the PM was quoted as saying by a member.
He added that Modi was visibly unhappy over absenteeism.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is upset with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers skipping Parliament sittings, sometimes causing embarrassment to the treasury benches.
The BJP with 282 parliamentarians has absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, but there have been instances of sessions being deferred for want of quorum. At least 10% of the House strength should be present to conduct proceedings. “Attending Parliament is your basic responsibility … I cannot be present on your behalf,” Modi said at the weekly meeting of the BJP parliamentary party on Tuesday.
His remarks followed parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar’s reference to incidents and problems arising out of lack of quorum. “I can call any of you any time,” Modi said, reprising that MPs should not be requested to perform their basic responsibility of attending Parliament sessions. “It is important that you remain present inside the House.”
Parliamentarians are required to mark their attendance in Parliament, a task the PM is exempted from. MPs get allowances to attend Parliament during sessions, but attendance is thin during after lunch.
Kumar and his predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu have repeatedly asked BJP MPs to attend proceedings, but it hasn’t cut much ice.
Modi’s tough talk on Tuesday was his first detailed intervention as he advised party MPs not to have other engagements during the Parliament sessions.
He recalled remarks of an RSS functionary that the Hindutva organisation had spread far and wide, and its members had a lot of work to do, but did not have time to attend the shakha.
Likewise, MPs too seemed to have so much of work that they do not have time to attend Parliament, which should not be the case, Modi said.
MPS GET ALLOWANCES TO ATTEND PARLIAMENT DURING SESSIONS, BUT ATTENDANCE IS THIN DURING POSTLUNCH SITTINGS