PM Modi: Can’t go by ‘whims and fancies’

Targeting Congress, Modi voices ‘sorrow’ at disruptions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed “sorrow” over the repeated disruptions of parliamentary proceedings by the Opposition, and said, without directly naming the Congress, that democracy could not function at the “whims and fancies” of anyone.

In a clear reference to the Congress, that has been stalling both Houses of Parliament in the past couple of days over the National Herald case, he said democracy cannot be restricted to elections and governments alone: one of the key dangers before it is mantantra (going by one’s whims and fancies), the other being dhantantra (money power).

As Mr Modi made these observations at a media event, relentless protests by Congress MPs over the alleged “vendetta politics” by the government in the National Herald case, virtually stalled Rajya Sabha proceedings all through Thursday. In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition MPs latched on to certain “objectionable” remarks by a BJP MP against Rahul Gandhi and demanded his apology.

Mr Modi, in his speech, also said the poor were not able to get their rights as laws to benefit them were stuck due to the disruptions in Parliament.

“It is not only GST (bill) but many pro-poor steps are stuck in Parliament. You must have seen that these days this (disruptions) is being seen more. Meri marji (I will do what I desire). I will do whatever comes to my mind. Does the country run like this Democracy does not function with mantantra. The country does not run on its basis. Whatever you may think, the system does not run like this,” he said.

The PM rued “due to Parliament not running this time, a particular law is also stuck, which we brought to enhance the bonus amount of the poor in jobs from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000. This also seeks to increase the salary ceiling for giving bonuses from the existing Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000. Is this not directly a work for the poor ”

He said the government was requesting that Parliament be allowed to function. “And that is why we are requesting for allowing Parliament to run. There cannot be a bigger forum than Parliament for discussion, debate and communication. But if we will negate the institution itself, then there will be question marks on democracy itself.”

“We have to keep in mind the dignity of democracy and enact laws for the benefit of the common man and the country. We have to lay emphasis on it, strengthen it,” the PM added.

Making a strong pitch for people’s participation in the journey of India’s development and democracy, Mr Modi said the first thing is to have faith in the people and their strengths. “Our definition of democracy can’t be restricted to elections and governments only. Democracy is strengthened by Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation),” he said, calling for making development a mass movement and integrating every Indian in the nation’s development journey. “Then Loktantra becomes Lok Shakti,” he said, adding he wants to make the development journey a people’s movement on lines of what Mahatma Gandhi had done in India’s freedom struggle.

Mr Modi said the thought process of the government was to empower people and the country’s development could be done only through people’s participation. In a veiled dig at earlier Congress governments, he said had people’s participation in development been made a policy after Independence, the pace of development would have been a thousand times more.