New Delhi, Aug 6 (PTI): Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused the opposition of deliberately not allowing Parliament to function, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah remain present throughout the day and are available for discussions.
The minister added that despite the logjam, legislative business is continuing and bills are being passed. The remarks came amid continued adjournments of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha due to relentless protests by the opposition over student issues and the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Rijiju said the opposition is preventing the House from functioning while alleging that the government is avoiding a debate. “Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah remain present in Parliament since morning and leave only in the evening. It is the opposition that is not allowing the House to function while raising slogans outside. That is not correct,” Rijiju told reporters.
He said the government has continued to transact business and pass bills, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, where discussions have taken place despite protests by opposition members. “We are passing bills and conducting House business. In the Rajya Sabha, bills are being passed after proper discussion. Congress and one or two of its allies may be walking out or creating a ruckus, but members are participating in debates and expressing their views,” he said.
The parliamentary affairs minister claimed the continued disruptions are hurting the Congress more than the government, particularly its first-time MPs who are losing opportunities to speak in Parliament.
“It is the Congress that is suffering. Some of its new MPs are not getting an opportunity to speak. Who is suffering because of this? Their own MPs,” he said.
Rijiju said the government has already taken “revolutionary” steps to curb examination paper leaks and accused the opposition of repeatedly staging protests over the same issue.
“The issue is over. The country is moving ahead. The prime minister has taken revolutionary decisions on examination paper leaks. But every morning they create drama over the same issue and continue raising slogans. They also do drama and insult Lord Ram,” he said. Referring to the ongoing deadlock, Rijiju said he has been in touch with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders to find a way forward.
“I had a good discussion with Rahul Gandhi and requested him on one issue. We have discussed other issues as well.
“We want to continue talking to the Congress and other opposition parties and work in coordination. We are political opponents, not enemies. We should work together in the national interest,” he said.
The BJP leader, however, alleged that the opposition is creating an impression that it will not allow Parliament to function at all.
“They are trying to create an impression outside that they will not allow Parliament to function. Who will suffer because of that? Their own members,” he said.
Rejecting the opposition’s allegation that Shah is absent from Parliament, Rijiju said the home minister has been present in Parliament every day and is available to participate in discussions.
“He is here, working. We see him coming every morning and remaining in Parliament till late in the evening,” he said.
Responding to a query on the opposition’s claim that Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan has asked him to “echo the sentiments” of the opposition to the home minister, Rijiju said the opposition was claiming it but the Chair has not said so.
“That is what the opposition is claiming. The Chair has not given this advice,” he said.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also accused the Congress of spreading a “false narrative” about the home minister and disrupting Parliament to avoid a discussion.
“Rahul Gandhi and Kharge ji come up with a new story and poster every day and keep demanding that Amit Shah be called to the House. The Union home minister sits in his chamber from 10 am to 7 pm every day.
“He is there even now. Let the House function first and let a debate take place. Once the debate begins, he will speak and give a strong reply,” Prasad said.
The former Union minister alleged that the opposition has been preventing Parliament from functioning while simultaneously accusing the government of avoiding discussion.
“But you do not allow the House to function; you do not allow any debate. You keep creating a ruckus while Amit Shah is sitting there and then demand that he be called. We also come and sit in the House, but there is continuous disruption and then proceedings are adjourned,” he said.
“Kharge ji, Rahul Gandhi ji, just look ahead. He (Shah) is sitting in his chamber, ready to hear your arguments and respond,” he added.