'PM Modi speaks well around nation, why not in Parliament', asks Congress

Launching a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Wednesday questioned the former's continued absence from Parliament.

"Opposition requests the government that there needs to be a discussion about state of affairs in the nation and the Prime Minister needs to be a part of that. There is a wide attempt to spread communal tension, polarization and he needs to tell us what is being done to stop that," said Sharma.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should listen to the opposition and answer their questions about what his party is doing. It is a reasonable demand in a democracy. The government is being arrogant in rejecting this simple demand. He who clearly speaks well around the nation cannot come to the Parliament and speak? The leaders of the opposition are being denied opportunity to express themselves, it's clear that the government doesn't want the Parliament to function," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Veerappa Moily said that the government needs to change their attitude if they want co-operation of the opposition parties.

Earlier in the day, the opposition stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha over a repeated demand that Prime Minister Modi be called to the Upper House to make a statement on the conversion row that has hogged national headlines for the past few days.

The Prime Minister, was, however, present in the Lok Sabha.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley countered the opposition, saying that the Prime Minister has not announced any policy decision outside the Parliament, but only made remarks.

Last week, around 200 people were reportedly converted to Hinduism in a ceremony in Agra by groups linked to the BJP's ideological mentor RSS.

The Bajrang Dal and the Dharam Jagran Manch, the groups that performed the mass conversions, reportedly claimed that the families were originally Hindus and converted to Islam around 30 years ago.