Modi, Shah to fast on April 12
BY Simontini Bhattacharjee10 April 2018 11:28 PM IST
Simontini Bhattacharjee11 April 2018 4:58 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will observe a day-long fast on April 12 to protest the impasse "caused" by the Opposition in Parliament, which saw a washout of the second half of the Budget Session. While PM Modi will observe fast in the national capital, Shah will hold a sit-in at Hubli in poll-bound Karnataka on the same day.
The BJP has blamed the Congress and Sonia Gandhi for the disruptions that meant that the budget session of parliament was a lost cause.
"The PM will work in his office but will not eat," said a BJP leader.
The BJP had announced last week that all its lawmakers would observe a day's fast against parliament disruptions, but the Prime Minister's participation was confirmed on Tuesday.
The ruling party has accused the Congress of not allowing any debate or discussion in parliament. The opposition, however, blames the BJP for getting its allies to raise protests in the house so that two no-confidence motions moved by Andhra Pradesh parties would never come up.
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi led a Congress fast at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat for communal harmony and what the party called the government's failure to control violence during Dalit protests.
The BJP mocked the Congress fast, accusing its leaders of gorging on chhole bhature at a popular Delhi restaurant before joining the fast. BJP leaders also tweeted images of Congress leaders like Ajay Maken and Arvinder Singh Lovely at the restaurant.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tore into the opposition in Bihar's Motihari allegedly for trying to break up society and "putting hurdles, from the Parliament to the streets" in the governments' efforts to uplift the poor.
Without mentioning the RJD-Congress combine in Bihar, Modi commended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his "fight against the corrupt and anti-social forces in the state" and said the Centre stood firmly behind his efforts.
"From the streets to Parliament, roadblocks are being created in the government's work. While the government is working towards uniting people and their hearts, some opponents are working towards breaking up society," said Prime Minister Modi.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing over 20,000 Swachhagrahis (cleanliness volunteers) at the concluding ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the 'Champaran Satyagraha' on Tuesday.
Lauding the Nitish Kumar government of Bihar, Modi said, "This government has put an end to the culture of keeping files pending.
Next Story