Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the continuing disruptions in both the Houses of Parliament and criticised the Opposition for their “arrogance”. He was addressing a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party here on Tuesday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters after the meeting, BJP MPs welcomed the Centre’s decision to implement 27 per cent quota for OBC students in medical and dental colleges under the Central quota.

‘Insulting comment’

Joshi said Modi, referring to a tweet by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien that the Centre is rushing through Bills like making papri chaat , said it is an insult to people who elected MPs. “PM expressed anguish. ‘Making papri chaat ’ was an insulting comment. Tearing of papers, throwing them and not apologising is arrogance is what PM said,” Joshi said. Joshi added that Modi maintained in the meeting that the government is ready for “constructive and rich debates”.

Minister of State in Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan said that Modi also told the meeting about ₹1.16-lakh crore being collected as GST in July.

“Parliament is being insulted by the acts of opposition in both the Houses. The person who snatched the paper and tore it is not repentant of his acts. Comments made by a senior MP regarding the passage of Bills is derogatory,” he added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman also spoke at the meeting. She is learnt to have made a presentation about the economic conditions and assured her party’s MPs that the recovery has gathered pace despite the second wave of Covid-19.

‘Economic indicators’

“India’s foreign reserves are at an all-time high while the GST collection also rose significantly last month. The government’s package for the MSME sector is now at ₹4.5-lakh crore while the banking sector has also made recovery and posted profit of over ₹31,000 crore, sources quoting her said. Economic indicators have been doing well, she told the meeting.

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