NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today disapproved of ministers skipping parliament duty and asked for the names of absentees to be sent to him every evening.
At a weekly meeting of the BJP parliamentary party, PM Modi asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi to regularly list ministers who had been absent despite being rostered for parliament.
The Prime Minister advised his party's parliamentarians to "work beyond the sphere of politics," according to BJP leaders present at the meeting.
Stressing on the water crisis, PM Modi reportedly asked lawmakers to sit with officials in their constituencies and discuss people's problems.
"MPs must do some unique work in their constituencies, work with the local administration and participate in social work," PM Modi reportedly counselled lawmakers.
He also urged lawmakers to "work in mission mode" to tackle disease like tuberculosis and leprosy.
Even earlier this month, the Prime Minister had berated party lawmakers for skipping parliament.
At another parliamentary party meeting, he had expressed dismay over the conduct of lawmakers like veteran BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya's son Akash Vijayvargiya, who assaulted an official with a cricket bat and later showed no remorse.
Such people should be expelled from the party without exception, "no matter whose son", the Prime Minister had said.
Today, PM Modi also reportedly said that the Budget session of parliament could be extended if needed. The session is scheduled to end on July 26.