‘Consensus essential to run country, want to take everyone along’ — Modi sets tone for 18th Lok Sabha

Speaking ahead of 1st LS session, PM Modi also took a swipe at Oppn, saying he hoped they won't 'disappoint people anymore' & termed the Emergency a 'black stain' on Indian democracy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: While majority in the Parliament helps run a government, governing a country requires “consensus”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday, underlining that the ruling alliance’s actions will be guided by the principle of “taking everyone along”.

In his remarks, made ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, Modi also took a swipe at the Opposition, saying he hopes that they don’t “disappoint” the people anymore, while also invoking the Emergency. Tomorrow marks the 50th year of its imposition.

In effect, Modi appeared to strike a chord of reconciliation, in view of the fact that his third term in office is powered not by the BJP’s numbers alone, while also sending out a clear message to the Opposition that he will not shelve his combative approach towards them.

“In the past 10 years, we tried to establish a tradition and we believe that to run a government, a majority is needed, but to run a country, agreement is essential. And that’s why our efforts will be to serve the country with everyone’s consent and by taking everyone together,” Modi said, standing outside the new Parliament building where the newly elected MPs are taking oath.

“Hum sabko saath lekar ke chalna chahte hai (we want to take everyone along),” Modi said.

This need to develop consensus and get consent was missing from Modi’s remarks ahead of the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha when the BJP had returned to power with an absolute majority, having won 303 seats.

This time, the BJP fell far short of the halfway mark, winning 240 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha.

In his pre-first session remarks in 2019, Modi had instead taken a dig at the Opposition’s diminished presence. The Opposition, he had then said, “should not worry about its numbers as the people have given them certain numbers”, but remain proactive for the sake of a robust democracy.

This time, the PM did not refer to the Opposition’s numbers, which have increased owing to the improved performance of parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Trinamool Congress, but reminded them that the people reward “substance over slogans”.

“People of the country expect good steps from the Opposition. They have got disappointment so far, but now people expect the Opposition to play its part, to respect the constitutional decorum. I hope they will meet the expectations of people,” Modi said.

The people of the country “don’t expect drama, disputes but debate and vigilance,” added Modi, flanked by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (Parliamentary Affairs) Arjun Ram Meghwal and Minister of State (Prime Minister’s Office) Dr Jitender Singh.

Over the past few days, Rijiju has met several senior leaders of the Opposition, seeking their cooperation in a smooth functioning of the Parliament. Several sessions of the 17th Lok Sabha were marked by disagreements, disputes, mass suspensions.

Speaking minutes before the new session of the House began, Modi, who later took oath as MP, said the new generation of India will never forget the suspension of the Constitution and the suppression of democracy during the Emergency imposed on 25 June, 1975.

He termed it a “black stain” on Indian democracy, adding that the people of the country have resolved that “nobody will ever dare to repeat it”. The Emergency was imposed by the Indira Gandhi government of the Congress.

Modi also referred to the fact that it was only the second time since independence that a government has obtained the mandate to be in office for the third straight term. By securing a third straight term in office, Modi has equalled the record of the country’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

“By choosing a government for the third term, the people have also stamped their seal of approval in its intent, policies and its dedication to work for their welfare…. As a result, our responsibility also goes up three times. I want to assure the people of country that we will put in three times more efforts,” Modi said.

(Edited by Zinnia Ray)