Why Are Modi and Amit Shah Missing from Lok Sabha?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are known for heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Even NDA allies such as TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan have been doing the same. During Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to inaugurate the Bhogapuram Airport, both leaders described the country as fortunate to have a Prime Minister like him. Pawan Kalyan went a step further, making the sensational remark that no one could defeat Modi unless Modi himself decided to step aside. However, developments in New Delhi over the past few days suggest that unprecedented events are unfolding in Indian politics. The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 20, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have not entered the Lok Sabha even once since the session commenced. Although both have been working from their respective offices within the Parliament complex, they have stayed away from the House.
Senior political leaders say that in the history of the Indian Parliament, there has never been an instance where both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister remained absent from the House for so many days while Parliament was in session. Ironically, Modi has already chaired several NDA meetings within the Parliament complex during this period, but has not entered the Lok Sabha. Political circles are of the view that leaders should face issues courageously rather than avoid them, and that staying away from the House amounts to disrespecting Parliament. There is also an opinion that this could put the BJP in a more difficult political position in the coming days.
The Opposition is demanding that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah apologise for the lathi charge on youth in Delhi. Along with this, the alleged theft of donations in Ayodhya is also expected to trigger a major debate in Parliament. Many political leaders believe that Modi and Amit Shah are staying away from the House to avoid facing questions on these two issues. Opposition parties are insisting that both leaders attend Parliament and provide answers. Earlier too, Prime Minister Modi stayed away from replying to the motion of thanks on the President's Address. At that time, the Speaker stated that he had advised the Prime Minister not to attend the House because there was information that some women MPs might physically attack him. For the first time in the country's history, the reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address was delivered by another minister instead of the Prime Minister. Now, many MPs believe that Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are once again adopting an evasive approach on several key issues. Discussions are gaining momentum that this reflects the weakness of the ruling alliance.
It is not that the BJP lacks numbers in the Lok Sabha. Recently, MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena were reportedly split and brought into its camp. Even then, many—including some BJP MPs—believe that the continued absence of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah from the House amounts to disrespecting Parliament and creates the impression that they are afraid of the Opposition. There is also a growing discussion that this reflects the weakness of the two senior leaders. Critics point out that whenever controversies have arisen in the past, they have largely chosen to remain silent rather than come forward and respond publicly.
