PM Modi in LS Live: Consensus democracy’s greatest strength

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday consensus was a democracy’s greatest strength and cooperation empowered it, not majority and minority vote.In his speech in the Lok Sabha, Modi said India was a diverse nation and the Constitution held the power to bind all its citizens. “Maintaining the sanctity of Constitution is the responsibility” he said.Highlighting the importance of a healthy discussion in Parliament, Modi said the spirit of discussion in the Lok Sabha is “us” and not “me” or “you”.Modi thanked everyone present in the House for the interest shown during the debate on the Constitution. “Some people have this wrong idea, maybe out of habit, that Prime Minister will respond to everything in the end. But I am speaking now, expressing my views, just as any other person here did,” he said.He also praised Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for her speech during the special sitting of the House to discuss commitment to the Constitution. “I believe your speech will be an inspirational document in parliamentary history. I congratulate you,” the PM said.He was speaking during a discussion on commitment to the constitution as part of 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the chief architect of the constitution.In his speech, Modi was expected to attempt



dousing the flames on the raging intolerance debate and placate an opposition that has accused the government of allowing such incidents to grow unchecked.On the first day of the winter session of Parliament on Thursday Modi had indicated that he will address the opposition’s concerns saying that the government is ready for debates but all parties must work for the nation.“The bitterness today reminds how our great leaders worked together to make the constitution,” Modi said on Friday.
The month-long winter session is expected to see fireworks with the government determined to push through its ambitious legislative agenda of 38 bills – including the landmark goods and services tax reform.But opposition parties are adamant on discussing a wide range of subjects like drought, price rise, declining industrial production and exports and especially use the growing chorus over rising intolerance to corner the government. Recent weeks have seen intense back-channel negotiations with several rounds of meetings between top leaders and exhortations by the Speaker to let the House run without disruptions.The last monsoon session was washed out by a Congress-led Opposition demanding the resignation of senior BJP leaders mired in controversies and the government is keen to use this session to further its reform agenda.