As BJP on Tuesday raised a storm over Robert Vadra’s land deals, BSP and SP, UPA’s outside supporters, struck a different note wondering how Congress President Sonia Gandhi could be held responsible for the alleged wrongdoings of her son-in-law.
The Left parties, however, took the stand that all cases of corruption should be probed.
"I would like to say if Sonia Gandhi is held responsible for it, our party does not agree with it. If someone does something wrong, his or her relations should not be punished. On the allegations against Robert Vadra, how can Sonia Gandhi be held responsible", BSP chief Mayawati told reporters here.
She was asked to comment on the Vadra issue over which both the Houses of Parliament saw repeated adjournments with the BJP turning aggressive.
SP leader Naresh Aggarwal said the BJP was “politicising” the issue which was a state matter and should be handled at that level only.
"I don’t agree with the BJP’s slogan of ‘sarkari damaad’. We are not in agreement with the politicisation of the issue and dragging Sonia Gandhi in to the issue. I do not see how she can be held responsible for the whole issue", he said.
Asked about the Left stand on the issue at a press conference jointly addressed by CPI(M) and CPI leaders, Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) said, "It is not just the question of the son-in-law. There are many more people who have foreign accounts. More information will come out in the near future. All non—issues are being raised and the House is getting disrupted. Why do no major party raise the issue of Reliance?"
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said all cases of corruption, whether any individual or any corporate is involved, must be probed and the guilty punished. These issues must also be discussed in the House.
Vadra is in the eye of the storm over alleged controversial land deals in Haryana and BJP has decided to step up the ante on the issue in Parliament.
'Threating the Opposition'
BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi’s complaint that Parliamentary Affairs Minister was threatening the opposition generated heat in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday but the prompt withdrawal by Kamal Nath of his remarks paved the way for running the House.
As the House reassembled at 2.30 pm after a brief adjournment, Mr. Joshi hit out at Mr. Nath, saying "he should behave".
Mr. Joshi was referring to Mr. Nath’s remarks while speaking to opposition leaders soon after the House was adjourned at 2 pm.
"He (Nath) is threatening...the House will not run. This is not the way to function", the BJP leader said amid strong support from opposition benches.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said he was raising the issue of repeated adjournments and he was obviously angry.
"I was requesting all the members. I had requested him. I thought that the House will run after 2 pm. Out of anger, I said this House does not belong to me, this House belongs to you also", Mr. Nath said as he tried to pacify agitated BJP MPs.
When some BJP members were still agitated, he said, "Don’t tell me how to behave. I respect my elders. I said this is the responsibility of all. I respect Joshiji. He is my senior. If he is hurt, I withdraw whatever I have said out of anger."
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, expressing unhappiness over what Mr. Nath had said earlier, remarked that what one says is sometimes not that important than how it is said.
She said the opposition wants discussion on Food Security Bill to be taken up at 2 PM and she had said so in a slip to Nath during an all party meeting earlier.`
