In a stinging attack on the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said dynastic political parties spread from Kashmir to Kanyakumari were a matter of concern to people committed to the Constitution.
Addressing a function to celebrate ‘Constitution Day’, which was boycotted by 14 opposition parties, the prime minister said the spirit of the Constitution is hurt when political parties lose their democratic character.
“How can the parties which have lost their democratic character protect democracy?,” Modi said at the function in the Central Hall of Parliament which was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and members of parliament.
Modi said a political party does not become dynastic if more than one member of a family joins the organisation.
“Problems arise when a party is run by the same family, generation after generation,” the prime minister said.
Modi’s sharp attack on the opposition has set the tone for a stormy Winter Session of Parliament that begins next week. The opposition too is seeking to corner the government on a range of issues such as the agricultural reforms, price rise, Pegasus issue among others.
The prime minister also spoke about citizens fulfilling their Constitutional obligations and not just speaking of Constitutional rights.
“Mahatma Gandhi tried to prepare the citizens for their responsibilities while fighting for independence. These seeds of duties sown by Mahatma Gandhi should have grown into huge trees after independence,” he said.
Modi said it was unfortunate that after Independence the systems of governance kept focusing on rights and led people to believe that only governments can fulfill their rights’.
“It is necessary for us to move forward on the path of duty so that our rights are protected,” the prime minister said.
In this address, the Vice President voiced concern over the steady decline in productivity of the Rajya Sabha.
Naidu said in a democracy the will of the people was reflected through the mandate to the governments of the day.
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