The BJP and the Congress on Wednesday finally arrived at a truce in the Rajya Sabha, with the government saying the commitment of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not questioned , and the Congress, in turn, disassociating itself from any disgraceful remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
The Congress had stalled the Upper House since the winter session began December 15, protesting against Mr. Modi’s “conspiracy with Pakistan” comments made at a poll rally in Gujarat against Dr. Singh and former Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
From an apology the Congress had scaled down its demand to “clarification.”
‘Wrong perception’
In a statement, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Prime Minister “did not question the commitment to this nation either by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister; or Hamid Ansari, the former Vice-President.” “Any such perception is completely erroneous. We hold these leaders in high esteem, as also their commitment to this nation,” he said.
Many statements were made on all sides during the elections and the government “does not want the stalemate as a result of this to continue,” he said.
In response, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “I want to thank the Leader of the House that he has issued a clarification on the issue, which was causing the deadlock for the last one week.”
Mr. Azad said the Congress, on its part, dissociates itself from any remarks made against the personality of the Prime Minister, apparently in reference to those made by its former MP Mani Shankar Aiyar.
“If during the elections [recent Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh], any member of our party gave such a statement that was against the stature of the Prime Minister, then our party dissociates itself from any such statement and we would not want any word to be said against the stature of the Prime Minister,” Mr. Azad said.
Other parties protest
Other Opposition parties, including the SP, the BSP, the Trinamool Congress and the Left protested against being excluded.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal stood up to object, saying the fate of the proceedings in the House could not be decided based on statements by only two people.
