File photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi misses wit in Parliament. Commenting on it at an event on Tuesday, he wondered whether lawmakers have lost their sense of humour fearing how the media will play it up.
"Humour and wit are gradually fading away from parliamentary proceedings as members are worried about what colour the 24x7 (media) will give to even one proverb," he said at a function where Arun Jaitley, Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav were presented Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards by President Pranab Mukherjee.
Addressing a roomful of parliamentarians, he shared a comment by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in Parliament two decades ago, comparing him to Lalita Pawar, a veteran actor famous for playing negative roles.
He said while Mr Pawar thoroughly enjoyed the remark, the light banter did not get proper media play.
But the prime minister also said Parliament does not function only on oratory.
"Unless there is a confluence of oratory, action and leadership, neither can Parliament be influenced, nor can the nation be inspired," he said.
PM Modi also called for a survey to get feedback from the public about the functioning of Parliament. This would give lawmakers ideas on how to conduct themselves, he added.
He also suggested that the Lok Sabha call a meeting of state assembly Speakers to explore the possibility of giving such awards to legislators in states.
As an aside, Mr Modi heaped praise on the President, who, he said, can remember dates and time of historical events. He wondered "what software his brain is made of."
"A half-an-hour talk with him is like reading a good book," he said, as Mr Mukherjee smiled.