Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in the BJP MPs and ministers, the Opposition said in an all-party meeting held here on Tuesday that the ongoing protests in various universities across the country will be reflected in Parliament too.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the Prime Minister said during the meeting that he was Prime minister not only of BJP but the entire country. “We will respond to the issues raised by the opposition and address them... I hope the congenial mood here will be translated into action in Parliament,” Modi was quoted as saying in the meeting.

The Opposition leaders complained to the Prime Minister that his silence on “divisive statements” by BJP MPs and Sangh Parivar leaders led to vitiating the communal atmosphere in the country. Though they welcomed the Prime Minister’s move to hold an all-party meeting, they gave no assurance on controversial legislations such as Goods and Services Tax Bill.

They, however, said that issues such as the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and the death of Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula will be taken up in Parliament.

Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters after the meeting bills should be passed on merit but if there is a stalemate in Parliament, then the government must find out the reasons and address them.

“If people holding the constitutional positions are vitiating the atmosphere in the country, then it will find a reflection in Parliament. Had action been taken against them, then many things which we see today would not be happening,” he said.

Azad said the Centre should have arrested those who vitiated the atmosphere before arresting a student. “His (Kanhaiya Kumar) arrest on the sedition charge is unfair. Action should also have been taken against those who vitiated the country’s atmosphere,” Azad said.

CPI leader D Raja told BusinessLine that he welcomed the Prime Minister’s move to reach out to Opposition parties.

“We will raise a number of issues in Parliament. The sops to corporate houses have crossed limits. The government is succumbing to foreign pressures by changing the Nuclear Liability Law. The Sangh Parivar has become so intolerant and has started attacking political opponents. Students are on the streets protesting against the Centre,” Raja said.

Regional parties demanded threadbare discussions on issues. “The Centre could be made accountable only if discussions take place in Parliament. Certain Opposition parties believe in obstructive methods,” said BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab.

Naidu said there was a general consensus that Parliament should run smoothly.

“The government will discuss every issue under rule. We have no objections. The government is willing to walk the extra mile... Let there be an open debate about what happened in JNU, the posters used there... Some said cops should not have gone there. The mood was very good and cordial,” Naidu added.

comment COMMENT NOW