New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pulled up BJP MPs for skipping Parliament proceedings following incidents of lack of quorum and even warned that he will keep a tab on them by calling any member any time during the session.
Modi’s tough talk to his party MPs at the weekly BJP Parliamentary Party meeting came following frequent delay in start of work in the two Houses due to lack of quorum-the minimum number of members needed for valid proceedings.
He told them that attending Parliament is their basic responsibility and added humour that he can do a lot of things but cannot be present there on their behalf.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar spoke about incidents of lack of quorum in both the Houses, including yesterday, prompting Modi to say that it should not be about “requesting the MPs to be present” as it is their basic responsibility.
BJP members said that the PM told them that it did not matter to him if they were in the Central Hall, a place to host joint sittings of Parliament where MPs often meet for informal conversation, as what is important is that they should be inside the Houses.
“I can call any of you any time,” the PM was quoted as saying by a member. He added that Modi was visibly unhappy over absenteeism.
Modi had in the past also asked members to ensure their presence in the two Houses but this time he spoke out without mincing words.
