Having returned to power with a bigger mandate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sought to reach out to the Opposition parties on the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session saying they need not “bother about their numbers” as their every word is “valuable” to the Government.

“When we come to Parliament, we should forget ‘paksh’ (treasury) and ‘vipaksh’ (Opposition) and instead think about issues with a ‘nishpaksh’ (impartial) spirit and work in the larger interest of the nation,” he told the media outside Parliament before the commencement of the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Inside the House, many of the newly-elected members were seen in colourful and saffron attire, traditional shawls and headgears even as two Union Ministers from Bengal were greeted with chants of Jai Shri Ram when they were called to take oath as Lok Sabha members.

Outlining the importance of an active Opposition in a parliamentary democracy, Modi said he hoped the Opposition will speak actively and participate in House proceedings. “I am hopeful that this session will be productive,” he maintained.

“The role of an Opposition and an active Opposition is important perquisite in a parliamentary democracy. The Opposition need not bother about their numbers. I hope they speak actively and participate in House proceedings. Their every word, every feeling is valuable to us,” he said even as he urged all MPs to be impartial in the House and address issues related to the larger interest of the nation.

Talking about the newly constituted Lok Sabha, Modi said it is historic in various terms as maximum number of women MPs have been elected to the lower house since the Independence. Modi said as this is the first session with new members, there will be a flow of new energy and a new enthusiasm will be reflected in the House to realise the aspirations of the people.

He said his Government worked on the principle of ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’ (with all, development for all) during his first term and people reposed their faith in it for a second time. As a result, a Government has been reelected with a clear majority after several decades, he said

Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the leader of the House, took oath as Member amid thumping of  desks by the ruling NDA MPS and slogans such as ‘Modi Modi’ and “Bharat Mata ki Jai.

The panel of presiding officers — K Suresh, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and B Mehtab — took oath as Members after the Prime Minister. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Chemical and Fertilisers Minister DV Sadanand Gowda also took oath.

Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, received the longest applause when she took oath. Rahul, who was missing from the House in the first phase, took oath in the second half.

When Union Ministers Babul Supriyo and Debashree Choudhury, who are from West Bengal, were called to take oath they were greeted by fellow BJP MPs with “Jai Shri Ram” slogans apparently as a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had objected to uttering the slogan during some incidents.