Modi tells RS infighting, bickering must go

'Houses should rise above political considerations'

Striking a note of conciliation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought cooperation of Opposition lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha but decried attempts to introduce politics in issues concerning the nation.

Pitching for a bipartisan approach, the prime minister said both the Houses of Parliament should work in unison and rise above political considerations.

Intervening in a debate on Commitment to the Constitution in the Upper House, Modi said the country cannot function through “tu tu, mein mein” attitude.

“We have to work together. There is no this side or that side. This House should give that message,” Modi said during his 45-minute speech, hours after his arrival from Paris where he addressed the climate summit.

“”The Rajya Sabha, the House of Elders, has special importance. There cannot be any discussion where there are no Elders. The Rajya Sabha has its own unique role,” he said as he invoked Gopalaswami Iyengar, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, to underline that the view of the Lok Sabha will prevail in case of a dispute. 

Modi also emphasised the unity in diversity theme and said nobody can raise questions over patriotism of 125 crore citizens of the country and nobody needs to give “certificate of patriotism”.

“There are many excuses to be divided, but we must look for opportunities to be united. Unity has to be central to a country like India,” he said as he began his speech with a reference to the involvement of Congress leaders in drafting the Constitution.

He said he has no qualms in acknowledging that it was the Congress-led government in Maharashtra that started the practice of observing the Constitution Day from 2008. 

Modi also said that his government does not believe in the view that it will celebrate an event only if his party is involved in the process.

Amid Congress’s allegations that the NDA government was reluctant in acknowledging the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru, Modi referred to the first prime minister and even quoted him a couple of times during his speech.