The low attendance of BJP MPs and Ministers in the Parliament prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to reprimand them for absenting themselves from the House proceedings. Modi warned that henceforth he may call anyone without prior notice.
The Prime Minster, who had in the past cautioned BJP MPs to be regular with the business of the two Houses sternly told BJP MPs in the Parliamentary Party meeting that as representatives of lakhs of people of their respective constituencies it was “their duty” to attend the Parliament.
The Government experienced frequent delay in start of work in the two Houses due to lack of quorum - the minimum number of members needed for valid proceedings. On Monday, three Union Ministers were not present in the Rajya Sabha to field questions pertaining to their Ministries during the Question Hour.
Modi’s intervention followed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar detailing incidents of lack of quorum in both the Houses, including Monday.
The Prime Minister said he could not have performed their (MPs) duties in Parlia-ment (if they are absent) while cautioning them that anyone of them could be called by him at any time.
One of the members attending the meeting said Modi recalled the remarks of an RSS functionary who had lamented that though the Hindutva organisation had spread far and wide, its members seem to be too busy to attend ‘shakhas’ (meetings). Similarly, the MPs too seemed to have so much of work that they do not have time to attend Parliament, which should not be the case, he said.
Prime Minister sought all members to attend the workshops on Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill which is expected to be placed before Parliament next week. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was not present in the meeting.
Prime Minister said the party would celebrate its Foundation Day on April 6 as also the birth anniversary of the founder of Indian Constitution and Dalit leader Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s on April 14. In this respect, he sought primary workers of the party numbering 11 crore, should be roped at local levels (Panchayat and municipal) for the twin events. The party would mark Ambedkar’s birth anniversary in a major way with party members organising functions, debates and processions carrying Ambedkar’s photographs.
In an exercise similar to past three years, MPs, MlAs and Ministers would communicate Government’s welfare programmes and policies and create awareness about them at the lowest rung.