40 MPs are conspiring and playing with democracy: PM

Chandigarh, Sep 11: Attacking Congress for disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings in the Monsoon session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said 40 MPs are "conspiring" and "playing" with democracy by "blocking" parliamentary process.

"MPs are sent by the people who elect them to Parliament. However, 40 MPs have conspired against the principles of democracy and playing with it against the wishes of people which is an insult to their representatives," Modi said addressing a gathering after handing over keys and papers to 10 allottees under the 'General Self Financing Housing Scheme' of Chandigarh Housing Board.

"Why are some people doing this (blocking the proceedings of Parliament), just for their arrogance. There can be nothing more unfortunate than this," he said.

What 40 people are doing in Parliament is not in the spirit of democracy and Parliament has to function, he said.

Virtually throwing a challenge to the Congress, he said, "Beyond the Lok Sabha is Jan Sabha (Peoples' Parliament) and that is why I am expressing my views here, in front of you (the gathering)."

After a gap of 30 years people have given a huge mandate to one party at the Centre, he said, adding, "people will not forgive some of the political parties for their conduct in Parliament."

"Ideals of democracy were not respected," he said while targeting Congress. On the vexed issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen, Modi said that the previous UPA government allocated only Rs 500 crore for the scheme, but when his government looked into this matter, it was realised that the amount required was Rs 10,000 crore.

"I have said that we will work on OROP and work began right from the time we assumed office. We spoke to stakeholders," he said.

Disapproving the agitation on OROP by some veterans after announcement of the scheme, he said, "Some people have been gripped by the disease known as agitation just for vested interests."

PTI