Walkout over SIR debate stalls day 1 of Winter Session

Parliament no place for drama; Opposition using House to vent out frustration: PM Modi

- MPOST BUREAU

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged Opposition leaders not to turn the Winter Session into a stage for theatrics, while also taunting them by saying he could offer tips on how they should carry out their official responsibilities.

He took a dig at the Opposition for their tactics to interrupt House proceedings in the past, saying the MPs “should change their strategy” now.

In his customary address to the media shortly before the session, he said: “The game the Opposition has been playing for the past 10 years is no longer acceptable to the people. They should change their strategy. I am ready to give them a few tips.”

“Whoever wants to do drama can do it. There should be delivery here and not drama. The focus should be on policy and not slogans,” he added.

Modi stressed that first-time MPs were getting frustrated as they were unable to get their chance to speak about issues in their respective constituencies.

"First-time MPs, irrespective of their party, must be given a chance, and we should take this seriously. There are many places to do drama. There is space for that, but not here,” he said.

“Even for raising slogans, you can do so across the country. You have spoken where you have been defeated. You can also speak where you are yet to face defeat. But in Parliament, the focus should be on policy, not slogans,” Modi, buoyed by the landslide victory of the NDA in the recent Bihar Assembly polls, said in a swipe at Opposition parties, while urging lawmakers to work with a sense of responsibility.

Referring to the drubbing of Opposition parties in the Bihar polls, he said they were perturbed by the electoral loss and unable to digest failure.

"Defeat should not be the ground to create disruption. Victory should not convert into arrogance either," the Prime Minister said.