Modi says one family obstructing parliament

Taking a potshot at the Congress leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said while the opposition wanted parliament to function, one family holding a grudge for its electoral defeat was not allowing the Rajya Sabha to function.

"Those who were reduced from 400 seats to 40 seats (in the Lok Sabha) are creating obstacles. Opposition parties want parliament to function, but just one family which is holding grudge for the defeat (in 2014 general elections) is not allowing the Rajya Sabha to function," Modi said in his address at an impressive public rally at Moran in Upper Assam's Dibrugarh district.

He appealed to the people of Assam to vote for the BJP in the coming assembly polls.

"Sarbananda ko lana hai, kyonki aapki jiban me anand lana hain (state BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal has to be brought to power as happiness has to be brought in your lives)," Modi said.

The prime minister said the National Democratic Alliance government wanted to bring in laws to increase bonus to workers and increased navigation and trading on the Brahmaputra river. "These laws are awaiting a nod in the Rajya Sabha but it is not allowed to function."

Modi also flayed Assam's Congress government and said it failed to provide houses, drinking water, electricity and education to tribals working on tea gardens for generations.

"You have given opportunity to all parties. You also know well who has done what. Give us one opportunity to serve you. There is a BJP-led government at the Centre. There should be a BJP government in the state as well for overall development," the prime minister said.

The elections to the Assam state legislative assembly are due to beheld before May this year.