New Delhi: A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's all-out attack on the BJP sparked a huge ruckus in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked MPs of the ruling NDA to follow the rules of Parliament and ensure that their behaviour on the House floor is exemplary.
The Prime Minister this morning addressed the NDA parliamentary party meeting that was attended by top BJP leaders and ministers. This was his first address to NDA MPs since he took over as Prime Minister for the third term in a row.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that NDA MPs congratulated the Prime Minister on his third term and assured their constant support.
"The Prime Minister gave us an important message. He said that all MPs have come to the Parliament for service to the nation and asked NDA MPs to prioritise this. He also guided us on how to conduct ourselves in the House," the minister said.
Mr Rijiju said the Prime Minister had told MPs to follow rules while raising issues of their constituency and of national significance. "He asked us to follow rules, maintain the system of parliamentary democracy and ensure that our behaviour is up to the mark. He told us to follow Parliamentary traditions," the minister said, adding that all NDA MPs will follow the Prime Minister's mantra.
"Yesterday, the way Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi behaved, he turned his back towards the Speaker and even insulted him. We must not be doing this. This is our lesson," Mr Rijiju said.
Asked if there was any discussion in today's meeting about Mr Gandhi's remarks and the ruckus in Lok Sabha yesterday, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister replied in the negative. "This meeting was not about that, it was to boost coordination among us." Mr Rijiju said the Prime Minister will be replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Lok Sabha today.
Mr Gandhi, in his new avatar as Leader of the Opposition, launched a scathing attack on the BJP yesterday, accusing leaders of the ruling party of attack the Constitution and misusing probe agencies for the political gains.
His remarks, several portions of his were expunged later, triggered loud protests from the treasury benches, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi rising on two occasions to intervene. The BJP leaders have accused Mr Gandhi of insulting Hindus, but the Congress has responded that his remarks were targeted at the BJP and its ideological mentor, RSS.