This Article is From Jul 22, 2014

BJP's Rules For MPs: Don't be Late, Don't Bunk Session for Foreign Trip

BJP's Rules For MPs: Don't be Late, Don't Bunk Session for Foreign Trip

File pic: MPs protesting in Parliament

New Delhi: No lobbying for foreign trips when Parliament is in session, no skipping key party meetings and no volunteering for house committees - these are some of the ground rules set by the ruling BJP for its 320-odd parliamentarians.

Sources said the party has warned its spokespersons against missing a weekly Monday meeting with Arun Jaitley, even if some of them are ministers now. After some of them stayed away this Monday, they have been told that a report on the meetings will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At a meeting with party MPs this morning, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu also said members can't ask permission for foreign trips during a session.

No BJP MP can submit any motion in the house without consulting with party leaders. Mr Naidu said MPs can't nominate themselves to parliamentary committees.

Members have also been asked to be at Central Hall of Parliament by 9:25 am for their party meeting on Tuesday.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister had a critique for the party's newly elected MPs. While praising their conduct, he said their personal secretaries need training to help the members can perform better in the House. The party has organized a week's training for MPs' aides in Mumbai.

At an earlier meeting with 150 first-time MPs in June, PM Modi had given a list of dos and don'ts that included treating parliament proceedings like the "Bhagwad Gita" and nurturing their constituencies.

"Our transition from opposition to treasury is not limited to moving a few feet to the other side. This is a significant transition and we must try to appreciate the meaning of this," Mr Modi had told the party's MPs.
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