Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 31 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the Congress for disrupting parliament session and said it is a misfortune of the country that the two houses are not allowed to function.

"Our government has been trying to take several steps for the welfare of the poor. There are some laws that are outdated for welfare of the poor and development of the country," Modi said after laying the foundation stone of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway here.

"New laws are needed in many fields, but it is the misfortune of the country that parliament, where laws are formulated, is not allowed to function," the prime minister said.

"Those who were rejected by the people are now not allowing parliament to function," he said.

Modi appealed to the political parties to allow parliament to function, and noted the irony of making the request in a 'Jan Sabha' (public meeting) rather than the Lok Sabha.

"I am specially appealing to all political parties. We are not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha but I am urging them from a 'Jan Sabha'... the people have sent us to parliament to debate, consult, discuss... to take collective decisions," he said.

"It is our responsibility to give priority to the work people have given us." 

Modi slammed the Congress without naming it, saying the party that ruled the country for 50-60 years understood the functioning of parliament and the government and had no reason to be angry and disruptive.

"Those who have ruled the country for 50-60 years have a bigger responsibility. They know better than us how the government and parliament functions and how important it is," the prime minister said.

"They were elected to run the country for 60 years... They have no right to stall and disrupt parliament".

He hoped the New Year would be different. 

"2015 is ending today, I urge them (opposition) to pledge that in 2016 they will not disrupt the proceedings of parliament and let the country march ahead," he added.