At a time when Parliament is witnessing a stalemate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the world closely observes whatever decisions are taken in India and asked MPs to take a larger view of issues as they could have impact globally.
He pitched for free airing of views by MPs on national issues irrespective of their party affiliations, in comments which came against the backdrop of some key reforms measures being stuck.
“Howsoever big an issue may be, usually we put our views on the basis of party’s thinking and regional considerations. That is also important. But India has not attained a stature that the entire world closely observes our decisions,” Modi said while emphasising the need for Parliamentarians to take a larger view of an issue.
Modi, while inaugurating a workshop on the Speaker’s Research Initiative (SRI) to train MPs on various subjects of global importance, said both these aspects — regional considerations and global dimension — should be considered while taking decisions as these may have impact internationally.
“Today we cannot decide in isolation in a globalised world…Decisions need to be taken in the context of global situation. Suddenly, gold prices may fall or there may be a particular situation in Greece. We cannot say that ‘it is happening somewhere else’. We have to see the context and assess whether there is impact on us.
“It is necessary to address our needs by combining these two aspects through the important medium of Parliament. Whatever rules or laws we make should be on the basis of these two aspects,” he said.
His comments assume significance as Parliament is unable to function due to a deadlock over opposition demand for ouster of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over various controversies.
The inauguration function, where the Prime Minister pitched for free airing of views irrespective of party affiliations, was attended mostly by MPs of BJP as also Trinamool Congress and some other parties. From the main opposition, Shashi Tharoor was the lone MP to attend it.