PM Modi hits out at parliament disruption, asks doctors to focus on wellness

Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he was taking the opposition's disruption of parliament, which he attributed to "some people's egos", to the people's parliament to let them decide who is trying to create obstacles in development.

"People of this country will never forgive political parties for their conduct in parliament. Some people, due to their ego, did not let the parliament function. This is most unfortunate," said Modi at a public rally here.

"I have come here to say that the Jan Sabha (people's parliament) is bigger than the Lok Sabha. I am taking my Lok Sabha case to the Jan Sabha of people."

The Lok Sabha was disrupted last month by slogan-shouting MPs of the opposition Congress, forcing the government to keep key bills, including on Goods and Services Tax (GST), on hold.

The prime minister's four-hour-long visit during which he inaugurated the Chandigah airport's new civil terminal, addressed the convocation of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and spoke at a rally itself created disruptions for the people.

Authorities in Chandigarh ordered closure of nearly 200 schools on Friday and the main cremation ground while police blocked roads to ensure smooth movement of Modi's cavalcade and even ambulances were directed to take long detours to reach hospitals.

The harassment of the common man forced Modi to express regret over the inconvenience caused to people.

"An inquiry will be held and responsibility fixed for the inconvenience caused to the people of Chandigarh," Modi tweeted.

"The inconvenience caused to the citizens of Chandigarh, especially shutting of schools, due to my visit is regretted. It was totally avoidable," he added.

The main cremation ground in sector 25, located next to the ground where Modi addressed the rally on Friday afternoon, too was out of bounds for people. Those who had to cremate their loved ones were forced to do so at cremation grounds in nearby Mohali and Mani Majra.

At the rally, Modi hit out at the Congress without naming it.

"We are running the government to take the country forward and have development. You have given us the clear majority to run the government. Without bothering for 400 MPs in Lok Sabha, 40 people (MPs) created obstacles in the development of this country. This was an insult to the democracy in this country," he said, adding that people should question their MPs whom they had elected.

About the recent decision on the One Rank, One Pension for ex-servicemen, he said the credit should not be given to the government but to "the poor and common people" and said though the amount incurred was not less, it was "small when seen in light of the sacrifices made by our soldiers".

At the 34th convocation of the PGIMER, he told the medical fraternity that people were now moving from treatment of illness towards achieving wellness.

"Doctors who focus on patients were more successful than those who focus on the disease. Be compassionate (to patients) as doctors. Common people consider you as gods. Address wellness and well-being, not the illness alone.

"Things are changing in our society. People want to be away from medicines. Yoga is one tool to achieve that," he said.

Reminding doctors about their obligation, Modi said: "Many of you must have ready passports or applied for visa. But you have an obligation towards the poor of its country."

While pointing out that the convocation was being held on September 11, which reminds the world about the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US, Modi said: "To kill is very easy, but to keep someone alive or to give life is more important. You doctors are doing that."

Earlier, Modi inaugurated the new civil air terminal of Chandigarh airport built at a cost of Rs.939 crore. The 305-acre complex is actually located in Punjab's Mohali district, adjoining Chandigarh.

All domestic flights operating to and from Chandigarh are likely to be shifted to the new terminal from next month. The new terminal is equipped to handle international flights and passengers also.