Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament urging Opposition members to raise “the most difficult and sharpest questions” in the House, but also told them to allow the government to respond in a “disciplined atmosphere”.
He also repeated his invitation to floor leaders of all parties for a meeting with him on July 20 evening to discuss the vaccination policy and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Modi had made the same offer at the all party meeting on Sunday, which had been rebuffed by opposition leaders who demanded a discussion in Parliament rather than a “power point presentation.”
The remarks by Prime Minister Modi to the media were made just before the session got underway, which had a stormy start with both Houses of Parliament being repeatedly adjourned and adjourned for the day without the customary introduction of newly sworn ministers in the council of ministers.
“I would like to urge all the MPs and all the parties to ask the most difficult and sharpest questions in the Houses but they should also allow the government to respond in a disciplined environment. This will boost democracy, strengthen people’s trust and improve the pace of development,” Mr. Modi said. “I hope every issue related to the pandemic and our fight against it would be discussed. I would like all floor leaders to attend a session tomorrow evening to have a presentation on the pandemic situation. It can be discussed on the floor of the House too,” he added.
The Prime Minister also made an appeal that everyone should be vaccinated against COVID-19 and follow protocols related to it strictly. “Vaccine is given in the ‘ baahu’ (arm) and those who take it become ‘ bahubalis ’ (strongmen) in the fight against COVID-19. It’s being taken forward. The pandemic has gripped the entire world. So we want meaningful discussions in the Parliament over it,” he said.
The offer for a special meeting over COVID-19 comes despite opposition leaders terming such a meet as “highly irregular” and not according to norms of a Parliament session.
