Political parties defending those who break rules of House is not good for legislatures: PM Modi

'Some political parties stand in support of such members and defend their mistakes. The situation is not good for Parliament or state legislature,' Modi said.

Mumbai: As he addressed the crucial issue of maintaining decorum in law-making bodies and corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed concern over the glorification of convicted corrupt individuals.

“In the past, allegations of corruption against a member of the House would lead to their ostracization from public life. However, we now witness public glorification of convicted corrupt individuals, which is detrimental to the integrity of the executive, the judiciary and the constitution,” Modi said in a video message to the All India Presiding Officers’ Conference being held at the Vidhan Bhavan complex in Mumbai.

Addressing the issue of maintaining decorum within legislative bodies, Modi remarked, “The conduct of members in the house and the conducive environment therein directly impact the productivity of the assembly. Concrete suggestions emanating from this conference will be instrumental in enhancing productivity.”

Modi said that conduct in the House by the representatives decides the image of the House.

He lamented the fact that parties instead of curtailing the objectionable behaviour of their members come out in their support. “This is not a good situation for either the Parliament or the Assemblies”, he said.

Recognising the pivotal role of state governments and their legislative assemblies in shaping India's progress, Modi asserted: “India's progress hinges on the advancement of our states. And the progress of states depends on the determination of their legislative and executive bodies to define their development goals collectively.”

Speaking on the significance of empowering committees for economic progress, Modi stated: “The empowerment of committees is crucial for the economic progress of your state. The more actively these committees work towards achieving the set goals, the more the state will advance.”

Addressing the need to streamline laws, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the efforts of the central government in repealing redundant laws.

“Over the past decade, the central government has repealed over two thousand laws that were detrimental to our system. This simplification of the judicial system has eased the challenges faced by the common man and enhanced the ease of living,” he stated.

Modi called upon the Presiding Officers to pay attention to unnecessary laws and their impact on citizens’ lives, stressing that their removal would have a significant positive impact.

Referring to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, Modi encouraged discussions on suggestions aimed at enhancing women's participation and representation. “Efforts to empower women and increase their representation must be amplified in committees in a country like India,” he stated.

Similarly, he stressed the need to increase the participation of youth in the committees. “Our young representatives must get maximum opportunity to put their views and participation in policy-making,” Modi emphasized.