BENGALURU: Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi for calling demonetisation “foolish”, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today accused Congress of committing contempt against the people and democracy of the country and asked it to allow the functioning of the Parliament if it was “wise”.
In a stinging attack on Congress over the Parliament logjam, Naidu asked, “Is it foolish to take action against black money and corruption which was encouraged by Congress and its friends all these years in power?”
Seeking to turn the tables on Gandhi, Naidu, at a press conference here, referred to the “inaction” (during the UPA regime) on alleged scams relating to allocation of 2G, 3G and coal and CWG, and said, “So, keeping silent or helping those (guilty) people, and not taking action was a wise thing?”
“You have 2G, 3G…Augusta, CWG and coal scams…And all of these happened under whose regime?”, Naidu said.
After leading an opposition protest against demonetisation yesterday, Gandhi had said, “This is not a bold decision, it is a foolish decision which has been taken without any due consideration. It has devastated the poor, farmers and daily wage workers.”
Countering his remarks, Naidu said, “If it is foolish, then why you are not wise enough to allow the Parliament (to function)? The best way to underscore your point is to expose the government and to allow the debate to take place, but you have given a rebate to a debate.
“Making noise outside (Parliament) without raising your voice inside – what is this? You are committing contempt against the people and democracy of the country,” he charged.
Naidu said people should debate whether keeping silent over several scams of the previous UPA government was foolish or taking action against corruption and black money, as initiated by Modi, through demonetisation was foolishness.
“I would like to ask Congress and friends, what are you objecting to? What are you calling as a foolish action? Taking action against black money and corruption, is it foolish? Or keeping quiet and being silent or being collaborators of those scams and scandals, was it foolish? These questions the country has to debate,” he said.
Naidu also urged the opposition, especially Congress, the Left and the Trinamool Congress, to “introspect” and allow the functioning of Parliament for the remaining period of the Winter Session, as there were important bills to be passed which would benefit the poor.
On the opposition’s demand that Prime Minister Narendra
Modi apologise in Parliament over demonetisation-related problems faced by people, Naidu said the opposition in turn should apologise for obstructing the Parliament. “Why should the Prime Minister apologise. They (opposition) have to apologise for obstructing Parliament,” he said.
“They did not apologise for mismanagement during their rule. Manmohan Singh had presided over mismanagement of the country. Are they asking us to follow their example of failing to control inflation, increase investments and GDP, besides checking debt?” he asked.
Naidu claimed that the entire country was agitated over the manner in which the opposition, particularly Congress, TMC and the Left were obstructing the Parliament continuously, which has also forced President Pranab Mukherjee to express anguish on the issue.
He also said the opposition which was protesting in front of Mahtama Gandhi’s statue was insulting the memory of Father of the Nation.
“People who are not allowing the House to function inside are protesting outside and staging dharnas, standing in front of Gandhiji’s statue – it is an insult to Gandhiji’s memories,” he said.
Naidu said Modi had taken “a bold and historical decision” for transforming India and to end corruption and black money, which would take time.
The Prime Minister was simply fulfilling the promise made to the people during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign to end corruption and black money, he said.
Terming the demonetisation step as “revolutionary”, Naidu said nobody, including the Prime Minister, was denying the problems springing from this initiative.
“In any revolution by and large, and also in any system change, there will be initial problems. Nobody denied that. Even the Prime Minister himself said bear for 50 days,” he said. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
