The Congress has stalled key reforms aimed at lifting millions out of poverty, PM Narendra Modi said.
New Delhi:
Just in case the Congress is undecided on a New Year Resolution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a suggestion: pledge "to not disrupt the parliament".
The Congress had a counter-offer for the PM: do some introspection.
The PM's advice was offered at a public function in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi yesterday. "Those who have been rejected by the people... are not allowing the parliament to function," he said. "(They) have a responsiblity to not put their political interests before national interests."
The Congress has stalled key reforms aimed at lifting millions out of poverty, the PM said. His government has a huge majority in the Lok Sabha or lower house of parliament, but needs opposition support to push through laws in the Rajya Sabha or upper house, where it doesn't have the numbers.
Raucous scenes during the winter parliamentary session saw heckling and rowdy protests from opposition lawmakers prevent the passage of several pieces of legislation.
Stalled bills include a key national goods and services tax -- which the Congress party had supported when in power.
The Congress pointed out that the BJP employed similar tactics to disrupt the former government before coming to power last year.
"If the opposition has no right to speak, will Modi-ji tell the people of India as to under what right parliament (functioning) was blocked by the BJP during the 10-year rule of the United Progressive Alliance government? " asked Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The party's allegations against the PM include his use of executive orders of ordinances to introduce laws that his government is unable to push through parliament. Ordinances are temporary orders and must be cleared by both houses of parliament to become permanent.
The Congress had a counter-offer for the PM: do some introspection.
The PM's advice was offered at a public function in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi yesterday. "Those who have been rejected by the people... are not allowing the parliament to function," he said. "(They) have a responsiblity to not put their political interests before national interests."
The Congress has stalled key reforms aimed at lifting millions out of poverty, the PM said. His government has a huge majority in the Lok Sabha or lower house of parliament, but needs opposition support to push through laws in the Rajya Sabha or upper house, where it doesn't have the numbers.
Raucous scenes during the winter parliamentary session saw heckling and rowdy protests from opposition lawmakers prevent the passage of several pieces of legislation.
Stalled bills include a key national goods and services tax -- which the Congress party had supported when in power.
The Congress pointed out that the BJP employed similar tactics to disrupt the former government before coming to power last year.
"If the opposition has no right to speak, will Modi-ji tell the people of India as to under what right parliament (functioning) was blocked by the BJP during the 10-year rule of the United Progressive Alliance government? " asked Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The party's allegations against the PM include his use of executive orders of ordinances to introduce laws that his government is unable to push through parliament. Ordinances are temporary orders and must be cleared by both houses of parliament to become permanent.
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