With protests from the opposition over remarks by various BJP leaders disrupting the proceedings and blocking key bills, PM Narendra Modi Tuesday asked party MPs not to divert from his government’s agenda of development and good governance — a message seen as a warning to those leaders who make provocative remarks. “Our party agenda is development and good governance and we should not dither in it. Nor will we allow anyone to dilute or deviate us from our commitment,” Modi told party MPs at the parliamentary party meeting, according to sources. Modi, who had already expressed displeasure over a Union minister’s inflammatory comments, warned the MPs no one should cross the line or the “Laxman Rekha”. While a section of party MPs said it was a message for those who make controversial remarks giving leverage to the opposition, three party MPs said this particular advice was not meant for “some officials who came inside the hall where he was addressing the members”. This came against backdrop of repeated disruptions in Parliament over remarks by BJP MPs. Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s ‘haraamzada’ speech in Delhi disrupted proceedings of both houses till she apologised. Another BJP MP, Sakshi Maharaj, had called Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse a ‘patriot’, triggering another bout of protests. Sakshi Maharaj was later forced to retract his remarks and apologise. Two weeks ago, at the BJP parliamentary party meet, the PM had urged party lawmakers “not to address the nation” out of turn. “I will not compromise on this,” he had warned, soon after Jyoti’s comments triggered a controversy. Modi also told party MPs about the government’s plans to hold a host of programmes like seminars and conferences on ‘Good Governance’ on December 25 that coincides with former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s birthday.
