Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his absence from both Houses, Congress on Wednesday termed as 'drama' his bowing before entering Parliament and accused him of 'showing scant respect' for the institution and not having the courage to face questions.
"His scant respect for the institution of Parliament comes through when you learn that the Prime Minister is in the building but chooses not to attend the House, which is in session. "We urge the Prime Minister to be brave, to summon up courage to face his fellow members in both Houses of Parliament. We urge the Prime Minister to learn to respect the tradition, which has strengthened our democracy over the decades," party spokesperson Rajiv Gowda told reporters here.
Continuing its attack on the NDA government for its 'U-turns', Gowda referred to a tweet of Telecom Minister Ravishankar Prasad, who then as BJP's chief spokesperson had targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that the latter violated a time tested tradition by going abroad when Parliament was in session. He also questioned why Modi was now mostly on foreign visits, when Parliament session goes on here.
"Think about this tradition...this tradition is not the only tradition, which the Prime Minister has violated. There are many others. There is a tradition that Prime Minister introduces his ministers to the House. I am a member of the Rajya Sabha. This time Arun Jaitley, who is the Leader of the House introduced the members to Rajya Sabha.
"When you see this kind of violation of traditions that have been built over decades ago, it becomes crystal clear to all of us that his bowing before House before entering this august building was nothing more than one in the on-going series of dramas..." Gowda said. Alleging that in the last three months, the Prime Minister has given more speeches in foreign Parliament than in Indian Parliament, Gowda wondered "is this because in those foreign Parliament, there is no one to ask supplementary questions? "Why does the Prime Minister not have the courage to come to our Parliament. Why does he not have the courage to defend his ministers for her divisive vitriolic hate speeches?" he asked.
Noting that it was important to balance domestic traditions and respect institutions, the Congress spokesperson said the Prime Minister should have either rescheduled his foreign visits or the sessions in Parliament to ensure that he was present when the Houses meet here. "He is not a helpless man...something is in his control," he said.
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