PM appeals opposition for co-operation in passage of important bills in Parliament
03 March, New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to the opposition for their support for the passage of important bills in Parliament. Replying to a debate in Lok Sabha on Motion of Thanks to President’s address in joint sitting of Parliament, Modi said he needs their support.
Accusing the Congress for disrupting Parliament and stalling bills, he invoked the statements of former Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and first President Dr Rajendra Prasad by reading out their statements against stalling of legislative business.
The Prime Minister also said the MPs should follow the advice of the President on the functioning of Parliament.
He added the House is a place where debates are to take place, but sanctity of the debates should be maintained. He said, bills related to Goods and Services Tax, waterways and Consumer Protection need opposition support to sail through in Parliament.
Modi said when Parliament does not function, the nation suffers and MPs suffer more as they cannot discuss issues of public interest.
The Prime Minister deplored the blame game attitude by political parties for scoring points saying the officialdom rejoices over this and nation suffers. Underlining the importance of the legislature, he said, a democratic country like India cannot be left at the mercy of the bureaucracy. He sought the opposition’s support in making the bureaucracy accountable to the people.
Without naming Rahul Gandhi, he took on him for mocking the government’s Make in India programme. Modi questioned whether such a scheme should be made fun of. Apparently responding tor Gandhi’s remarks yesterday that the Prime Minister should listen to others, Modi said it is easy to preach others.
Modi also suggested that only women MPs should speak in Parliament on the occasion of International women’s Day on 8th of March. He also stressed the need for focusing on primary education and water conservation.
Responding to Congress contention that MGNREGA was started by previous UPA government and NDA regime has repackaged and usurped it, Modi said such schemes for the poor have been going on for decades under various names and in different versions.
The Prime Minister observed that NDA government is making efforts to strengthen the MGNREGA by plugging loopholes as it has failed to properly address the issue of poverty.
The Prime Minister also rejected the Congress allegation of not implementing the Food Security Act in Gujarat. He said the State Government has already implemented it.
He however, reminded the Congress, that four states, Kerala, Mizoram, Manipurand Arunachal Pradesh- ruled by it, are yet to implement the Act.
Later, the House adopted the Motion of Thanks after negating amendments moved by opposition.