Modi comes up with 3 suggestions for House

I am not suggesting this because I am a first-time MP. I am saying this because I feel the need for a fresh whiff of air in this House. First-time MPs are taking special interest in new programmes and they should be given the opportunity.

PM NARENDRA MODI

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi came up with three suggestions for Parliament on Thursday.

Modi’s proposal that only women members should speak in Parliament on March 8, International Women’s Day, started murmurs in the House with A am Aad mi Party’ s Bhagwant Mann retorting, “What happens to us. We don’t have any woman MPs. Does that mean we will not get an opportunity to speak in Parliament?”

As Mann’s voice was drowned out by treasury benches, Trinamool Congress’ Moon Moon Sen, seated next to him, was seen enquiring from him about the point he was making.

The prime minister also proposed setting aside one week in every one or two sessions of Parliament every year wherein only first-time MPs will be given a chance to speak.

“I am not suggesting this because I am a first-time MP. I am saying this because I feel the need for a fresh whiff of air in this House. First-time MPs are taking special interest in new programmes and they should be given the opportunity,” Modi said.

Incidentally, the present Lok Sabha has 314 MPs ( 58%) who have been elected to the House for the first time.

This suggestion from the prime minister was widely applauded by MPs on all sides.

Even Mann, who opposed his first idea, was seen thumping the desk in support.

PM Modi added that MPs should sit for an extra day on Saturday to discuss India’s role in accomplishing the sustainable development goal finalised by the United Nations.

“I admit that we have a lot of agendas. But there should be an occasion when we rise above party lines and indulge in ‘rashtraniti’. I am sure people will think about it,” Modi said.