‘Negative’ mindset, PM Modi slams Opposition

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 19

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As expected, the monsoon session got off to a stormy start with the Opposition in both Houses creating a ruckus and preventing Prime Minister Narendra Modi from introducing the new ministers in his Council and forcing him to table the list.

Upset over the disruptions, Modi lashed out at the Opposition, saying that such a “negative mindset” had never been witnessed in Parliament. “It seems some people cannot digest that more women, SC, ST and OBC community members are becoming ministers,” the Prime Minister said.

“It is a matter of pride that people from rural India, who come from ordinary families, have taken oath as ministers. But some people don’t want ministers to be introduced. They also have an anti-woman mindset since they do not want women ministers to be introduced to the House,” PM Modi said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the Lok Sabha and newly appointed Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal also slammed opposition MPs, accusing them of breaking long-held traditions of Parliament for the first time, assertions which Congress declared “untrue”.

“This is untrue. The BJP never allowed Dr Manmohan Singh to introduce his ministers time and again,” Congress’ Lok Sabha MP Manish Tiwari said, taking to social media.

“You reap what you sow,” Tiwari said, attaching a statement by Manmohan Singh, apparently in the Rajya Sabha, saying that “have you heard of a situation in Parliament where the PM is not allowed to introduce his Council of Ministers”.

Setting the mood for the rest of the session, combative Congress MPs raised banners and shouted slogans in protest against the increasing prices of fuel as soon as the PM got up to speak. The Akali Dal and other parties held banners opposing the farm laws. Speaker Om Birla tried to reason out, asking them to maintain peace and allow the PM to introduce the new ministers.

Later, Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that he had never seen such behaviour in his parliamentary life. “Healthy traditions have been set by following conventions in Parliament. In my last 24 years of parliamentary life, I have not seen a single instance where the PM could not introduce his Council of Ministers,” Singh said, terming the behaviour of the Congress “sad, unfortunate and unhealthy”.

Amid repeated disruptions, both Houses were adjourned in the afternoon without conducting any business.

Earlier, PM Modi had again appealed to lawmakers to participate in Parliament proceedings and work with the government to make the monsoon session a productive and constructive one.

“People of the country are waiting for answers from the government. The government is ready with the answers. Please ask us tough questions, ask them again and again, but also give us time to respond in a peaceful manner,” the PM said, addressing the media ahead of the session

The PM said he had told floor leaders of parties that he would like to give them detailed information on Covid management.