NEW DELHI, Apr 28:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sharp criticism of the previous governments, especially the UPA, during his recent foreign visit today rocked Rajya Sabha, which witnessed repeated adjournments but Finance Minister Arun Jaitley put up a strong defence saying “there is no gag order” on the PM abroad.
Members from Opposition and treasury benches had heated exchange of words on Modi’s remarks in Canada that he wanted to “clean the dirt” of 60 years, forcing three adjournments in the pre-lunch session.
Rejecting the Opposition charge that Modi was “lowering the dignity” of the country by making such remarks abroad, Jaitley, who is also Leader of the House, said the Prime Minister was “perfectly entitled” to say that his government will break away from what happened in last 60 years and give a clean government.
“There is no gag order on the prime minister,” Jaitley said on the prime minister speaking about opposition on foreign soil.
He also took potshots at both Janata Dal (United) and CPI(M) wondering whether they thought that India is not defamed by “acts of corruption” but by referring to them.
Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma raised the issue through a notice for suspension of business under Rule 267 to discuss Modi’s remarks in Germany and Canada alleging that the Prime Minister had lowered the prestige and dignity of the country, a contention which was supported by members from other Opposition parties including Sharad Yadav of JD-U.
Vehemently countering the charge, Jaitley said while he can understand the Congress benches getting upset with the talk of cleaning up corruption, he was surprised at the remarks of JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and CPI-M leaders.
“I am surprised with this new-found dialectics of the morals of the CPI-M. According to this new ideology …India is not defamed by acts of corruption. India is defamed only when you refer to the acts of corruption,” he said.
Jaitley said “the member (Anand Sharma) and others must realise that in today’s technology whether you discuss the scam in India or outside in Berlin, internet will take it everywhere in the world. The satellite will take it everywhere. So even if you discuss it here, people all over the world will see it.
“So don’t be touchy about the fact that it is not discussed here and it is discussed outside.”
Taking a dig at Yadav, he said he wanted to remind him that all socialist leaders of the country used to attack the then Congress government on “violation of human rights” whenever they visited abroad.
“The leaders whose legacy you represent had campaigned against it in the whole world…I am surprised all those who were with us on the issue of corruption since the ’60s are now bothered why are we discussing the issue,” Jaitley said.
He said the government was ready for a debate on the issue as the discussion will naturally entail a discussion on all “scams” that happened in last sixty years.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien rejected the demand for suspension of Question Hour saying members could discuss the issue under other available procedures.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was ready to discuss all scams in the past 60 years, for which they should give notice.
“Their’s has been a government full of scams for past 60 years and we are ready to discuss all scams,” he said.
The House saw two brief adjournments due to slogan- shouting by opposition members within the first hour after it assembled for the day.
Amid a heated exchange of words between the treasury and the Opposition benches, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who was in the Chair, disallowed the suspension of Question Hour. But when Congress members trooped into the Well raising slogans like “PM Hosh Me Aayo” and “Pradhan Mantri Jawaab do”, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
After the House reassembled, the Congress members remained unrelenting, forcing Ansari to adjourn the House for 15 minutes again.
Again when it met, the Opposition members, continued to object to the remarks of Jaitley and Naqvi in defence of the Prime Minister.
Leader of the House defended Modi saying that “obviously the Prime Minister is entitled to say this….The discussion here is do not discuss what happened in last sixty years.
Seeking a reply from the Prime Minister for “showing India down” during his foreign trip, Anand Sharma (Cong) said “let me make one thing clear.
“What we are saying is, there have been enough discussions on scams. My objection is to the conduct of the Prime Minister. We have strong objection to his remarks. He is not a member of this House and only he can answer.”
Chairman Hamid Ansari said “the Minister has said, you give notice and you can discuss.” However, as the din continued, Ansari adjourned the House for the third time till 2 PM.
Earlier, Sharma said he had given notice under rule 267 for suspension of business to discuss statements made by the Prime Minister abroad which he claimed had lowered prestige of the country. (PTI)
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