Damage control is an art perfected by BJP president Amit Shah and he does a darn good job of it. That vote of confidence comes from none other than PM Narendra Modi who said as much when he made an introductory speech at at the meeting of senior union ministers on Sunday evening held at 7 Race Course Road to finalise the party's strategy as it gets ready to battle an united opposition in Parliament. The monsoon session of Parliament begins tomorrow.


At the 7RCR meet, held between 2 pm and 7 pm, the atmosphere was  relaxed with Modi pointing to the basic issues which needed to be highlighted in the monsoon session.


On Sunday morning, Shah had a meeting with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Scindia at his house on Akbar Road. Shah suggested that Swaraj be allowed to make a three paragraph statement about her involvement in the Lalit Modi controversy.


The PM agreed to it, but the sticky point that remains is the manner in which the issue would be raised in Parliament.


The PM, quoting his one year experience in Parliament, said that the battle plan needs to be figured out before the session commences. He said it would not be possible to do it ad hoc since the day the session begins, you can be assured that MPs would be rushing to the well of the house to hijack issues.


There will be little opportunity to clarify issues irrespective of whether the MPs is from the Opposition or the treasury benches.


So, the Prime Minister has asked Sushma Swaraj to keep her statement ready, so that it can be ready whenever the occasion presents itself.

The Prime Minister also told all the Union Ministers to speak about their ministry's achievements in the last one year during the question hour as well as during debates. Modi said there should be 10 to 15 items on the list of accomplishments during the past one year at every minister's finger tips.
Union ministers should not refer to any notes prepared by officials.


In other words, the PM has insisted that ministers should involve themselves not only by being articulate in Parliament but they have been told to follow up on the implementation of suggestions and monitor them on a weekly basis.


Stay with us when the monsoon session of Parliament begins tomorrow.