NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the opposition, saying those rejected by people 80-90 times were trying to control Parliament by resorting to hooliganism for their own political gains.
Addressing reporters ahead of the start of the Winter Session of Parliament, Modi said such handful of people did not succeed in their intentions but people of the country observed their actions and punished them at an appropriate time.
Modi’s remarks came days after the BJP-led coalition won the Maharashtra Assembly elections by a landslide, bagging 235 seats and relegating the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi to a distant 49 seats in the 288-member House.
Earlier, the BJP registered a surprise third consecutive victory in the Haryana polls, trouncing the Congress, which was billed as a pre-poll favourite.
“There should be a healthy debate in the Parliament but, unfortunately, certain individuals are trying to control Parliament for their own political gains, resorting to disruptions and chaos,” Modi said.
“Though their tactics ultimately fail, the people watch their behaviour closely and deliver justice when the time comes,” he added.
Modi said he had been repeatedly urging opposition colleagues, and some also agreed that Parliament should function smoothly.
“But those who have been continuously rejected by the public ignore the words of their colleagues and disrespect their sentiments and that of democracy,” the prime minister said.
The Winter Session of Parliament began on Monday and is scheduled to continue till December 20.
“The most troubling aspect, however, is that such behaviour (disruptions) stifles the rights of new MPs — those who bring fresh ideas and energy from all parties,” the prime minister said.
He also said the new members were often denied opportunities to speak in the House.
“In a democratic tradition, every generation has the responsibility to prepare the next generations. But those who have been repeatedly rejected by the people — 80-90 times — neither allow discussions in Parliament nor respect democratic principles or the aspirations of the people,” Modi said.
“They do not realise their responsibility towards the people. As a result, they consistently fail to meet public expectations, leading to repeated rejection by the electorate,” he said.
Modi said he hoped that the new members from all parties would get opportunities to speak in Parliament.
“They bring fresh ideas and innovative visions to advance Bharat. Today, the world looks at Bharat with great hope. As members of Parliament, we must use our time to further enhance Bharat’s global respect and attraction,” he said.
“Opportunities like the one Bharat has today are rare on the world stage. The message from Bharat’s Parliament should reflect the voters’ dedication to democracy, their commitment to the Constitution, and their trust in parliamentary practices,” the prime minister said.
“We, as their representatives, must live up to these sentiments. It is time to reflect on the time we have lost so far and resolve to compensate by thoroughly debating various issues in the House,” he said.
“Future generations will read and draw inspiration from these discussions. I hope this session will be highly productive, enhance the prestige of the Constitution’s 75th year, strengthen Bharat’s global stature, provide opportunities to new MPs, and welcome new ideas,” he said.
“With this spirit, I once again invite and welcome all esteemed members of Parliament to approach this session with enthusiasm and vigour,” the prime minister said.
He added that the current session of Parliament was special in many ways, with the most significant aspect being the 75-year journey of the Constitution.
“This is a momentous occasion for democracy. Tomorrow (Tuesday), we will collectively begin the celebration of the 75th year of our Constitution in the Samvidhan Sadan. The Constitution framers debated every point in great detail while drafting the Constitution, resulting in this excellent document. A significant pillar of this is our Parliament and its members,” Modi said. (PTI)
