Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in his address to NDA MPs at the parliamentary party meeting, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments should be countered with facts and MPs should not behave like him. He told them to follow parliamentary rules and conduct, and learn from senior members about the best practices.
His comments came a day after the ruling alliance accused Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, of making a “most irresponsible” speech. Sources said he told the MPs that the opposition is upset as for the first time a non-Congress leader, that too a “chaiwala”, has become prime minister for a third straight term.
Highlighting his humble origins, he took a swipe at the Nehru-Gandhi family and said they “captured” the PM’s chair for decades but the government under him has given due respect and tribute to all the leaders of the country through the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, or the Prime Ministers’ Museum.
Modi advised new MPs to visit the Prime Ministers’ Museum, sources said. He told the new members that there is no better place to learn than in Parliament and they must visit the Prime Ministers’ Museum to know about the great journey of these leaders and learn from their experience, sources added.
His speech at the NDA parliamentary party meeting comes ahead of his much-awaited reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address later in the evening. On Monday (July 1), Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a no-holds-barred attack against the BJP in his first speech as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, who arrived with the PM for the meeting, said Modi gave the MPs an all-important mantra on service to the nation, which must be their first responsibility irrespective of the party they belong to.
“…Today, PM gave us a mantra which is very important. He said every MP has been elected to the House to serve the nation. Irrespective of the party they belong to, service to the nation is our first responsibility. Every NDA MP has to work by prioritising the country, this is what the PM urged,” Rijiju told news agency ANI.
The union minister further said Modi asked the first-time MPs to develop expertise in major issues like water, environment and social affairs among others as well as to be aware of all the House rules regarding conduct.
“Secondly, the PM guided us well regarding the conduct of MPs. He said that every MP should present the matters of their constituency in the House very well as per rules. He also told us to develop expertise in other major issues of interest – be it water, environment, social area. So, PM told us to develop expertise in those areas. PM urged NDA MPs to follow rules of the Parliament, Parliamentary democracy system and conduct which is essential to becoming a good MP… I think this guidance by the PM is a good mantra for all MPs, especially the first-time MPs…We have decided to follow this mantra…” Rijiju added.
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