Amit Shah warns BJP MPs for skipping Parliament sessions

Expressing disappointment over MPs missing Parliament session, BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday pulled up the party's lawmakers at the BJP parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi.

"Till Parliament is on all members should be present, matter of members not present will be taken up seriously," Union Minister Ananth Kumar told the media after the meeting.

"When the party issues a whip, members must be present in the House. The party president has taken a serious view of the absence of members. He said it should not have happened and must not be repeated," he added. Shah also took up the matter of invalid votes being cast during the presidential poll and asked the lawmakers to ensure that they cast votes properly during the vice presidential election.

Reports also said that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was not at the meeting, was "extremely upset" over the attendence of BJP MPs. PM Modi is currently in Assam to take stock of the flood situation. On Monday, the opposition forced an amendment in a bill pertaining to the National Commission for Backward Classes.

The amendment sought to increase the number of members from three to five, including a woman and a minority candidate of OBC category. The BJP could have influenced the passing of the ammendment but a number of its MPs were missing from the Rajya Sabha. BJP may seek explanation from the absentee Rajya Sabha MPs, said reports.