Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked Congress leaders to take a vow in the New Year to allow Parliament to function and not create hurdles in the country’s development. In a stinging attack on the party, Modi said the Congress which “enjoyed power” for over six decades has no right to destroy its functioning just for “political reasons” now.

The PM’s attack comes after key Government Bills, including the crucial GST Bill, were held up due to a stalemate between the ruling and Opposition party in Parliament. The PM chose to attack the Congress while addressing a public rally at Noida after laying the foundation stone of a 14-lane expressway connecting Delhi with Meerut. Modi clearly tried to send a message that while his Government was attempting to do everything for the development of the country, the Congress was creating hurdles in the NDA’s path.

“Tomorrow is January 1. When you are going to celebrate New Year, you should take a vow to allow Parliament to run and do its work and not pose hurdles for the country’s development,” Modi said.

“This is the misfortune of India that Parliament, where laws are made, is not being allowed to function. Those who have been rejected by the people have seized its functioning. They do not allow Parliament to run. I request all these political parties not to do so. Since I have not got an opportunity to speak in lok Sabha,

 I am taking the opportunity to air my views in Jan Sabha. People have sent us to Parliament to debate, discuss and decide.”

As the impressive gathering clapped and cheered him all the way, Modi said it was the special responsibility of the Congress to ensure that the country’s development was not stopped because of political reasons. “They have more responsibility as people had given them the opportunity to run the country for over six decades. I understand the anger of those who have not got a chance to rule the country. But those who have enjoyed all kinds of power for 60 years have no right to halt Parliament and destroy its functioning,” he said.

On the occasion Modi reiterated his earlier statements that the Government has abolished interview process for class III and class IV employees and now appointments will happen strictly on basis of merit. Hailing the measure as an attempt to provide opportunity to the poor minus any possibility for corruption, Modi said that as an MP from Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too should abolish interviews in class III and class IV jobs so that youths of the State get jobs on the basis of merit.

Terming the expressway project as “highway to development”, the PM said that it will lead to promotion of weekend tourism in a number of areas adjoining the expressway and development of

a number of satellite towns as well. “We are not merely constructing a road, this is a highway to development,” he said as he recalled the vision of former Prime Minister AB

Vajpayee about road connectivity in the nation.