Modi Accuses Opposition of 'Negative Politics', Urges Constructive Work in Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticised the Opposition for what he described as “negative politics” and alleged that attempts were made to suppress his voice during the last Parliament session. Speaking to the media ahead of the commencement of the Budget Session, he urged Opposition leaders to engage in constructive work, asserting that Parliament was not for “dal” (party) but for “desh” (nation).

Mr. Modi said the Union Budget, to be presented on Tuesday, would set the direction for the next five years and lay the foundation for fulfilling the dream of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. He described the Budget as a significant event that would shape the country’s future.

The Prime Minister noted that political parties had been in election mode since January for the Lok Sabha polls, and the people had delivered their verdict. “Now, it is the responsibility of all elected representatives and of all political parties that we have fought for our respective parties, and now, for the next five years, we have to fight for the country and strive for it,” he said.

Expressing sadness, Mr. Modi said that after 2014, many MPs did not get an opportunity to speak about their constituencies or share their views in Parliament due to the negative politics of some parties that, he alleged, misused Parliament to hide their political failures.

Referring to the first session of the current Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said an “undemocratic attempt” was made to scuttle the voice of the government, which had been elected by 140 crore Indians. He claimed that for two-and-a-half hours, attempts were made to suppress the Prime Minister’s voice, and said such actions had no place in democratic traditions. “They have no remorse over it,” he added.

His remarks appeared to refer to the incident during the last session when Mr. Modi delivered his reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address amid loud protests and sloganeering by the Opposition. The Opposition was demanding that both MPs from Manipur be allowed to speak. The incident had led to disruptions in proceedings.

The Prime Minister also expressed pride that after nearly 60 years, a government had returned for a third consecutive term, and had the privilege of presenting the first Budget of its third term. He said the country viewed this as a proud moment in the glorious journey of Indian democracy. “It is a matter of immense pride for me personally as well as for all of our colleagues,” he said.

The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on Monday. The Union Budget will be presented on Tuesday. This is the first Budget Session of the 18th Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister’s remarks are customary before the start of each session, setting the tone for the government’s agenda.

The session is expected to witness discussions on various issues, with the Opposition likely to raise its demands. The Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the situation in Manipur.