Sad that Parliament can't function; GST and pro-poor bills stuck, says Modi

‘Democracy cannot function at the whims and fancies of anyone,’ said Modi.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed his concern over the repeated disruptions in the Parliament which had led to the stalling of crucial bills, saying that the logjam in both houses was a \"matter of sorrow\".

“It is a matter of sorrow that Parliament is not running. Democracy cannot function at the whims and fancies of anyone,\" Modi said in a sharp reaction to the Winter Session, as the proceedings in both the houses were paralysed due to opposition protests and sloganeering.

He said that the rights of the poor are being ignored with the Parliament not functioning. ‘It is not only GST but many pro-poor steps are stuck in Parliament,’ he said.

Speaking at the Jagran Forum in the national capital, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of public participation in a democracy and said that the definition of democracy could not be restricted only to elections and the governments. \"Democracy is strengthened by people's participation,\" he said.

Drawing inspiration from the Indian freedom struggle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he wanted to make the country's development journey a 'Jan Andolan'. \"Everyone must feel he or she is working for India's progress. The first thing is to have faith in the people and their strengths. This becomes 'Lok Shakti',\" he said.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi to highlight the importance of 'jan bhaagidari', Prime Minister Modi credited the Father of the Nation for bringing a big change in the process of the freedom struggle. \"Mahatma Gandhi transformed the freedom struggle into a 'Jan Andolan'. He turned a common man into a soldier of the freedom struggle,\" he added.