PM Modi asked MPs to follow a time management schedule which involves spending less time on cellphones
"Beware of sting operations," warned Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar at the start of the BJP weekly strategy session with all its lawmakers in the two houses.
From here on, the hour-long meeting turned out to be yet another pull up your socks cum commandment from the PM session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Bhavra in Aliaraj district of Madhya Pradesh - freedom struggle hero Chandra Shekhar Azad's home town to flag off the Independence Day march programme. It will figure 75 ministers visiting 150 spots associated with the Indian freedom struggle.
PM Modi expressed displeasure at most lawmakers not filing in reports of what they did during the Vikas Parv in May this year. Lawmakers and ministers were asked to visit areas in their constituencies and submit reports. Many MPs who had not filed reports were told sternly that they would have to file reports of their activities daily for the Tiranga Yatra or Tricolour Yatra. And these reports need to be filed online. MPs and ministers have been directed by the party bosses to take out Tiranga Yatra in their constituencies with a long list of Dos and Don'ts. They are required to banish four wheelers and ride around on motorcycles carrying eight-feet-big tricolor and wearing helmets in national colour.
Bhupendra Yadav, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, said, "The idea is to strike a chord with the common people. That can't be done driving in cars. The motorcycle symbolises the aam aadmi." He would be visiting areas in Rajasthan.
At parliament's gate number four, two ministers stood waiting for their vehicles. Hari Bhai Choudhry, junior minister for Home, agreed with the two-wheeler for Tiranga Yatra and had found a way to best the problem he faced. "I don't know how to ride a bike. So I will ride with someone. It will be a group of 200-odd motorcycles."
Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya was listening carefully. He too nodded and said, "I will also find someone to drive me around."
A BJP woman MP added, "It's a difficult situation for women MPs. We have to find someone reliable to move around on bikes."
Preparing for the programme though is the easier part, filing daily online reports tougher. MPs have been told by the BJP bosses to ask family members or assistants to file reports. And the warning is that the PM will not be lenient with those who don't file reports.
Interestingly as in the case of reports on work done in their constituencies, MPs have to upload pictures as evidence for programmes organised.
The PM didn't stop there. He asked them to follow a time management schedule which involves being less on mobile phones. Quoting Benjamin Franklin, he said "Time is money and time lost can never be found again."
PM Modi also asked the MPs to focus on their social media presence. Many MPs at the end of the meet left wondering how to meet the targets the PM has set for them.