Question Rajya Sabha MPs over lack of House productivity, Modi tells youths

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday took a dig at the Opposition over Rajya Sabha's lack of productivity and said it is a matter of concern.

Addressing a "National youth parliament festival", he told youngsters to question the members of Rajya Sabha, where opposition parties have a numerical advantage over his government, of their respective states, saying it will lead to nation-wide pressure on them.

Modi said the productivity of the outgoing 16th Lok Sabha, where the government enjoys a big majority, was 85 per cent and it passed 205 bills, as he credited the development to the full majority voters gave to the BJP in the 2014 general elections.

The Rajya Sabha's productivity was only eight per cent in the last session where the interim budget was passed.

With the general elections due in April-May, Modi is seeking a renewed mandate to push ahead with the "development" agenda and asserting that a complete majority for the BJP will result in a strong government.

Opposition parties have often joined hands to block his government's legislative agenda in the Upper House of Parliament.

Modi asked youngsters to organise events upon returning home and invite Rajya Sabha members from their states as chief guests and question them.

In his speech and during the subsequent question and answer session, the prime minister dwelt at length at his works to curb corruption and empowering poor, and also referred to the 10 per cent quota given to the general category poor in education sector and jobs to stress on his attempt to give youths equal opportunities.