India coming to terms with 'PM-mukt Parliament': Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "absence" from Parliament, saying "India has been forced to come to terms with a PM-mukt Parliament".

"When PM Modi assumed office, he had said that Parliament is a temple of Democracy and he kow-towed before entering the august building for the first time. A year into his term, on one of his numerous trips to the USA, he said, the Constitution is the only holy book for his Government.

"But, today, India has been forced to come to terms with a 'PM-Mukt Parliament'. PM Modi's actions show his disdain for the Parliament and its affairs", the party said, targeting Modi by using a parody of his call for 'Congress-mukt Bharat' he had made during the Lok Sabha poll campaign.

Titled "India has a 'PM-Mukt' Parliament", the commentary has been posted on the party's website.

The party alleged that the Prime Minister loves to speak, "but, unfortunately, not in national interest but for vote bank politics."

It claimed that for all his "grandstanding", the Prime Minister was "chided" into making a rare appearance in the Lok Sabha during the final stages of the GST Bill, after it was debated threadbare in the Rajya Sabha.

"This was the first time in over 122 occasions when a Constitutional Amendment was passed in both the Houses of Parliament that the Prime Minister was absent. An embarrassed PM Modi made an appearance in the Lok Sabha after the GST bill was debated, to save face," it said.

The party said this year there has been violence in Kashmir, vigilantism by Gau Rakshaks and systematic violence against Dalits, "yet the Prime Minister did not make a statement in Parliament, but chose to address these issues outside."

The party said MPs are representatives of the people and the Houses of Parliament represent people's will.

"When there are serious atrocities, the Prime Minister must address the representatives of the people, who will then hold the Government accountable," it said.

"Is the Prime Minister's absence indicative of his disregard for the temple of our Democracy? There have been numerous occasions when the PM has been in the Parliament building, but chose not to attend the session. Prime Ministers of the past had made it a point to attend Parliament", it said.

"Instead of paying lip service, Mr Modi should actually give Parliament, and through it the 125 crore Indians, the respect it deserves," Congress said in the commentary.