PM seeks details of BJP MPS who missed voting
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought details of lawmakers who were not present in the Rajya Sabha on Monday when voting for a statutory resolution moved by several Opposition MPS was held, a person aware of the details said.
While addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary party meeting, the prime minister took strong exception to the absence of certain lawmakers in the Upper House. The statutory resolution demanded that the tribunals reforms bill be sent to the select committee of the House. The resolution was put to vote and negated after only 44 MPS voted in favour of it and 79 against it.
Modi asked parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi to submit the details of the missing MPS, the person quoted above said.
“On earlier occasions too, the prime minister had instructed the MPS to remain present in the House. There is a standing instruction to be present when bills are taken up for passage. A whip has also been issued to the
MPS to remain present in both the Houses this week as legislative business draws to a close,” a party functionary said, asking not to be named.
At the meeting, Modi also asked the lawmakers to take up mass campaigns for eradication of malnutrition, encourage sports in their constituencies and create awareness about the golden card under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The card allows cashless treatment of the beneficiaries of the scheme, which was launched in 2018 to provide the poor free access to private healthcare.
Modi said the lawmakers must ensure that social schemes aimed at providing nutrition are implemented on the ground, the first person quoted above said.