How to Discipline Parliament’s Truants

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earned the displeasure of some of his colleagues who complain in secret about his being a “ruthless” stickler for rules. But then his headmaster-like insistence on his party’s MPs reaching the House on time, especially when crucial matters are under discussion or vote, seems to have resulted in higher attendance levels. That the Prime Minister cares two hoots about a person’s lineage when he is in a mood to snub a truant isn’t unwelcome either. It makes for better discipline.

Among the MPs who got a taste of Modi’s wrath for being absent in the Lok Sabha when the crucial Land Acquisition Bill was passed last week included, besides others, the likes of Varun Gandhi, Poonam Mahajan and Pritam Munde—all three young representatives of political families.

Among those most upset about being asked to stand up and explain his absence was Varun Gandhi. True, Modi could have acted in a far more gentle way. But don’t our errant MPs deserve to be treated like school-children?

Land Acquisition BillNarendra ModiParliamentPoonam MahajanPrime MinisterPritam MundeVarun Gandhi