“Parliament is not a place for drama; it is a place for delivery,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday in his customary remarks ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament. “For some time now, our Parliament is being used either as a warm-up arena for elections or as an outlet for frustration after defeat,” Mr. Modi went on to allege, referring to the Opposition.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament ahead of the Winter Session, he said the session must not become a stage for political theatrics but a platform for constructive and result-driven debate, and offered to give the Opposition tips on bringing “positivity into politics”. “We need to work with a sense of responsibility,” he said.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament was virtually washed out over Opposition protests on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Opposition has also threatened to stall the Winter Session of Parliament over the SIR exercise in nine States and three Union Territories if the issue was not discussed in Parliament.
Referring to the drubbing received by Opposition parties in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly election, the PM 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,” he said. The record turnout witnessed in the Bihar election was the biggest strength of democracy, he said, adding that the Opposition too should fulfil its responsibility and “come out of its depression after loss in elections”.
“The game the Opposition has been playing for the last 10 years is no longer acceptable to the people,” the Prime Minister said. “They should change their strategy — I am ready to give them a few tips,” he said, urging all parties to recognise the purpose of Parliament and “come out of the frustration of defeat”.
Certain statements by leaders of some Opposition parties suggested their inability to accept electoral outcomes, Mr. Modi said. “There are one or two parties that are unable to accept their defeat. From the statements I heard yesterday, it seems that the loss has deeply troubled them,” he said.
Opportunities should be given to the new generation of young Members of Parliament, he said. “The House should benefit from their experiences, and through this House, the nation should also gain from their fresh perspective,” the PM said.
