NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Monday criticised frequent disruptions in Parliament and said those involved should reflect on their repeated rejections by the electorate but the opening day of the winter session had to be adjourned shortly after the two Houses met as the opposition parties demanded a discussion on bribery allegations against Adani Group and a JPC probe into it.
“In a democratic tradition, every generation has the responsibility to prepare the next. 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. They don’t realise their responsibility towards the public. As a result, they consistently fail to meet public expectations, leading to repeated rejection by the electorate,” Modi said, his remarks widely seen as aimed at leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The opposition had submitted several adjournment notices seeking suspension of the day’s business in both Houses to discuss the indictment of Gautam Adani and others in a US court. However, the notices were disallowed.
Modi’s comments came two days after the BJP-led coalition won the Maharashtra assembly elections by a landslide, bagging 235 seats and reducing the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi to 49 seats in the 288-member House.
Earlier in the day, Modi had emphasised that Parliament and its members were a significant pillar of the Constitution and it was essential for the House to engage in healthy discussions. “Unfortunately, some individuals are continuously attempting to control Parliament through disruptive tactics for their political gains. Their primary goal of halting parliamentary proceedings rarely succeeds, and the people take note of their actions, often punishing them when the time comes,” he said, adding that it was “time for them to show remorse for past actions” and allow the House to function properly.
The PM said he had been repeatedly urging opposition members that Parliament should function smoothly, adding that some of them agreed with him.
Modi hoped that new members from all parties would get the opportunity to speak in Parliament. “They bring fresh ideas and innovative visions to advance Bharat. Today, the world looks at Bharat with great hope,” he added.