PM Modi Highlights Need for Parliamentary Decorum, Criticizes Eulogizing Convicted Politicians

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the All India Presiding Officers’ Conference, emphasizing the importance of maintaining decorum in parliamentary proceedings and criticism of Convicted Politicians in parliament. Modi criticized the trend of political parties defending members who violated parliamentary decorum, stating that such actions were detrimental to the functioning of legislative bodies. He highlighted the shift from a time when senior members advised erring colleagues to the current scenario where some parties defend the mistakes of their members.

Referring to the suspension of over 140 Opposition MPs in the last Parliament session, Modi expressed concern about the lack of adherence to parliamentary decorum. He underscored the need for essential discussions on how to maintain the decorum of the House effectively.

Modi raised a significant point about the public glorification of politicians convicted of corruption, stating that it disrespects the executive, the legislature, and the Constitution. While not explicitly naming anyone, the remarks are perceived as a reference to one of the Convicted Politicians, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who has been convicted in the fodder scam. This statement comes at a crucial time when the RJD-JDU alliance in Bihar is on the verge of a split, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to join the NDA once again.

The Prime Minister also addressed the need to enhance the functionality of legislative bodies and emphasized discussions on empowering women and increasing their representation. Modi encouraged suggestions aimed at achieving these goals, highlighting the importance of amplifying efforts to empower women in committees.

Additionally, Modi stressed the significance of increasing youth participation in committees, providing young representatives with more opportunities to contribute to policy-making. He recalled the concept of “one nation, one legislative platform” introduced in his 2021 address and expressed satisfaction that Parliament and state Assemblies are working towards this goal through E-Vidhan and Digital Sansad Platforms.

The Prime Minister’s remarks underscore the ongoing efforts to improve parliamentary functioning, uphold decorum, and address issues related to the representation of different segments in legislative bodies.