NEW DELHI: With the Opposition parties stepping up attack on the BJP-led Government for the offensive statements made by the party MPs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked them to refrain from making such acts as these diverted the attention from the government’s development plank.
Speaking during the party’s weekly meeting, Modi said MPs should be careful about their speech. “Our party agenda is development and good governance and we should not dither on it. We will not allow dilution or deviation from our commitment,” a senior minister quoting the PM said.
The PM’s assertion came in the wake of the recent offensive statements, including those of MP Sakshi Maharaj, where he compared Nathuram Godse and Mahatma Gandhi.
Stressing that Swachch Bharat was not a statement, but a commitment, Modi cautioned the MPs: “People have taken the lead now, and if we fail to do it, we will be rendered irrelevant. We have to undertake this crusade with commitment and utmost simplicity.”
During the meeting attended by all senior ministers and MPs, Modi said MPs should endeavour to educate themselves minutely in programmes of the government and be familiar with the policies and activities of the ministries. “Ministers should ensure that during Parliament session, they should hold interactive presentations with the members, while the members should have an eye for details of government schemes,” Modi said. He elaborated on the upcoming ‘Good Governance Day’ event planned on December 25, the birth anniversary of former PM A B Vajpayee.
“Constructing a bus stop is development. But to see that buses ply in time, are kept clean, women commuters are safe are ingredients of governance. Similarly, constructing a hospital is an act of development, but rendering quality services, and doctors along with institution delivering is governance,” the PM told his party colleagues, while adding that the people in the government or those associated with it should be sensitive.
The recognition of the BJP is with good governance which is through fine and effective policies and programmes, he added. He said service to society would be initiated by holding of camps on health, eye care, blood donation and donating items to poor in hospitals on the day.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu spoke on good governance and the current impasse created by the Opposition. Jaitley said the government was keen to get Bills passed and would not be cowed down by the Opposition agenda.