In what reaffirms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall not hold back while dealing with Union Ministers who do not adhere to roster duty, recent reports state that he has taken “serious cognisance” of such ministers in a meeting on Tuesday. The prime minister reportedly raised the issue of Union Ministers skipping Parliament during BJP’s Parliamentary Party meeting at the Parliament Library Building. He also asked the legislators to remain present in the House. A senior BJP leader speaking on the condition of anonymity, told ANI, “There are complaints that ministers remain absent during their roster duties. Prime Minister asked for their names by the evening and said that serious cognizance will be taken.” PM Modi reportedly warned ministers, who are found to be absent from parliamentary proceedings, of strict action during the meeting. “Ministers are not present in the House during their roster duty and send a letter asking that they be excused as they are busy with some other work. I know how to set right such ministers,” PM Modi said, according to some MPs present.
PM Modi also asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to share the names of ministers if they miss the roster. It must be noted here that whenever the Parliament is in session, a roster is prepared for ministers with a view to ensure that at least one or two cabinet ministers are present in the House to answer the Opposition. During the ongoing session, many opposition leaders have voiced concern about ministers being absent from the House. In the meeting, PM Modi also asked the MPs to widen their sphere of work and go beyond politics, focussing on social work as well.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi briefed reporters after the meeting. He said, “PM has reiterated that attendance is compulsory in the house and there is no exception to this. He has asked them to ensure that the government schemes reach people.” He added that, “aspirational districts in the entire country are competing with each other over different yardsticks and the data is updated every day on websites. Each district is being monitored for implementation of government schemes and MPs have to get involved with officials to take all these schemes to people.”
This is not the first time that PM Modi has highlighted this issue. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Modi had made it clear that the party was keeping a close watch on the attendance of the party MPs. This makes it clear that PM Modi values the premier institution of Indian democracy very highly. He understands that a properly functioning Parliament is a sine qua non of a vibrant democracy. This government never shies away from being accountable and answerable. And due to this reason, PM Modi holds Parliament and the duty of the government to represent itself in the house very highly.
