Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed disappointment at the absence of normal proceedings in Parliament’s Monsoon session leading to the passage of several bills amid the Opposition’s protests, and said bright and young MPs of the Congress do not get to participate in discussions due to the insecurity of its leadership.
Sources said PM Modi made these remarks at the customary informal meeting of leaders from different parties in the Speaker’s office after the House was adjourned sine die. Opposition leaders kept away from the get-together.
Sources added that while he did not name Rahul Gandhi, the leader of Opposition in the House, who is leading his party’s agitation against the Election Commission of India’s drive to revise electoral rolls in Bihar, his remarks were aimed at him.
The PM singled out the online gaming Bill, which bans all real-money games and was passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha without discussion due to din, for praise and its wide positive implications due to the adverse impact on society by these online games.
He said the Monsoon session covered several important bills and regretted that they could not be discussed in Parliament, the sources said.
Asked about the decision of Opposition parties to keep away from the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Rijiju took a swipe at them saying their leaders might have been too embarrassed with their conduct during the session to attend it.
Rijiju added that Congress functionaries who attend the meeting with the Government over the business in Parliament often come to some understanding but cannot implement it. They might be facing pressure, he said, in an apparent swipe at Rahul Gandhi.
Senior BJP leaders and members of a few other parties, including those from the ruling alliance, attended the meeting. The minister said it is “rare” for opposition leaders to boycott the meeting hosted by the Speaker over tea after the Session concludes.