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Sunday, June 22, 2014

BJP plans crash course in 'How to conduct yourself and influence people... in Parliament' -- NEWS

The BJP is planning a two-day crash course on Parliament functioning for its first-time MPs, which incidentally includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.
The party is considering June 28 and 29 as tentative dates for the training programme, ahead of the budget session of Parliament. The dates are yet to be finalised, sources said.
The idea, according to sources was mooted by Modi himself while talking to some party leaders. The session, which may be held outside Delhi, is likely to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
The training programme will include sessions on how MPs should conduct themselves during question hour, zero hour and on attendance in the House, sources said. Modi had emphasised on being present in the House when he addressed the BJP's Parliamentary party earlier this month.
While the invitations are likely to be sent to all MPs, the session will mainly be for the new entrants into Parliament, a BJP leader said. The party had held a similar training programme around four years ago.
With the Modi government busy with the Union budget, to be presented in Parliament next month, it would have to be seen if the dates suit the schedule of senior leaders. Both Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley have been focusing on the budget, sources said, adding that the government was giving priority to the economy and containing price rise. Given the high expectations of the people, the budget is going to be viewed as a litmus test for the government.

That the new government is facing teething troubles is evident from protest against the rail fare increase, which has brought the Modi regime under severe attack from the Opposition. In defence of the government, home minister and party chief Rajnath Singh said on Saturday in Khajurao, where he inaugurated a training camp for Madhya Pradesh's new legislators, that policies are not made in 10-15 days. "Measurement of our government's work cannot be done in a few months," he said.
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