New Delhi: Hitting out at the culture of sycophancy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked BJP MPs to shun the practice of touching his feet and that of other leaders.
Addressing party’s newly elected MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament at the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party, Modi asked them not to touch anyone’s feet or indulge in sycophancy, it is learnt. Sources said Modi was referring to new MPs touching his feet when they met him and asked them to work hard as Parliamentarians.
“Don’t touch my feet,” was Modi’s directive to the new MPs, in an apparent dig at the Congress, which the BJP has often targeted for the alleged “sycophancy” surrounding the Gandhi family, and some regional parties steered by political families where such practices are prevalent.
The sources said Modi asked his MPs to be armed with knowledge and be good Parliamentarians by enhancing their skills in the “temple of democracy”.
Oath taking task almost over in LS
After creating a record by ensuring oath of over 510 members on a single day, the Lok Sabha today almost completed the task with several more new members following suit.
Those who took oath today included a couple — Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav (RJD) and Ranjit Ranjan (Cong).
Naramalli Sivaprasad (TDP), who was also a member of the earlier House, took oath so also Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP).
Others included Prakash Babanna Hukkeri (BJP), R Radhakrishnan (AINRC), Jagdambika Pal (BJP), Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Cong) and B B Patil (TRS).
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu thanked Protem Speaker Kamal Nath as well as Lok Sabha Secretary General P Sreedharan for conducting the oath taking process of the new members.
The Secretary General created a record by ensuring oath of over 510 members on a single day, he added. (PTI)
