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Modi takes a leaf out of Anna Hazare’s book, asks MPs to fast in protest against Congress

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The second half of the Budget session, which began 5 March and ended Friday, did not see any legislative business barring the passage of the finance Bill.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked all Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs to hold an ‘anshan’ or hunger strike in their constituencies on 12 April to protest against the second half of the budget session of Parliament being washed out due to protests by opposition parties.

The second half of the budget session, which began 5 March and ended Friday, did not see any legislative business barring the passage of the finance Bill, for which the BJP leveraged its majority in the Lok Sabha. Continued protests by the opposition, especially by the Congress over the PNB-Nirav Modi scam, led to repeated adjournments.

At the last BJP parliamentary party meeting of this session Friday, Modi asked MPs to tell constituents that the Congress had “murdered democracy” by not letting Parliament function.

“This is the highest temple of democracy, and the Congress has disrupted it throughout,” said a BJP MP.

“We are here to fulfil promises made to the people and the Congress has ensured that no work… could take place this session,” the MP added, “So, the PM has asked us to hold a peaceful anshan in our constituencies, and let people know about the Congress.”

“We will tell the nation that this was the first time in history that even the PM was not allowed to deliver his speech as the opposition kept making noise. So far, every PM has been given this courtesy without ruckus or disruption,” the MP said.

Part of a larger plan

According to sources, BJP parliamentarians have also been asked to hold ‘vikas yatras’ in their constituencies to highlight the government’s achievements on the development front. They can hold it anytime between 12 April and 5 May.

The rallies are part of the BJP’s larger push to build momentum among members ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Also on the schedule are celebrations to commemorate ‘Pokhran Diwas’ on 11 or 12 May, in recognition of India’s 1998 nuclear test, where MPs have been asked to ensure youth participation.

“It is a programme to ensure that our younger generation feels proud of what the country achieved during the NDA’s rule, and to strengthen the confidence of youth in the present government,” the MP said.

At the meeting, the PM also reiterated the BJP’s proposed programme to reach out to Dalits, first laid out on 23 March at the previous parliamentary party meeting. Under this programme, MPs have been directed to organise a whole range of events between 11 April and 5 May in their constituencies, including a special session on Ambedkar Jayanti (14 April), to mark four years of the Modi government and its various schemes.

“The MPs will celebrate the birth anniversary of social reformer Jyotirao Phule on 11 April. After that, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan will be celebrated on 18 April, the Ujjwala scheme on 20 April. Panchayati Raj Diwas will be next on 24 April, followed by Gram Swabhimaan Diwas (28 April), Swastha Bharat Diwas (30 April), Kisan Kalyan Diwas (2 May),” the MP said. “There will be a final ‘convocation ceremony’ of sorts, a culmination event, on 5 May.”

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