‘Safar mein dhoop to hogi…’ PM invokes Nida Fazli over his predicament

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) In reciting Urdu poet Nida Fazli's famous ghazal "safar main dhoop to hogi..." in the packed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made known his difficult situation due to key bills stalled in parliament and asked the opposition to "change" its behaviour.

It was an unusually soft-toned poetic Modi mixing his political predicament vis-a-vis paucity of numbers in the Rajya Sabha with literature, making a passionate appeal to the opposition to allow the government secure passage of crucial economic bills, including the Goods and Services Tax.

The government doesn't have the required numbers in the Rajya Sabha where the opposition is in majority. Consequently, various key reform legislations, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, stand stalled.

"Safar main dhoop to hogi, jo chal sako to chalo," he said, invoking the famous Urdu poet and asking the opposition to walk along with him in his difficult journey under the scorching sun.

There was thunderous applause from his colleagues in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and allies with opposition leaders, including his predecessor Manmohan Singh, smiling, when Modi asked the oppositon to change its disruptive tactics.

"Kissi ke waaste raahein kahan badalti hain; tum apne aap ko khud hi badal sako to chalo" (Paths don't change their course for anybody; if you can change yourself, please do"), he implored quoting the poet.

And then Modi asked the opposition to walk along on his path towards development: "Sabhi hain bheed main; tum bhi nikal sako to chalo."

He said the culture of Indian political conduct was such that no one makes way for anyone and added that he doesn't mind being criticised if that helps the opposition to tread a corrective path.

"Yahan kisi ko koi raasta nahin deta; mujhe girakay agar tum sambhal sako to chalo."

And his voice diminished in the loud beating of the desks, when he dealt a final literary blow. "Yahi hai zindagi, kuchh khwab, kuchh chand ummeedain; Inhi khilonon se tum bhi bahal sako to chalo."

"This is all that life is about -- a few dreams, a few wishes, and if you want to amuse yourself with these toys, please do."