Union Minister for Law and Justice Veerappa Moily on Sunday described the opposition as “urchins,” while referring to the reluctance of the Bharatiya Janata Party to take part in a discussion in Parliament on the 2G spectrum issue.
Mr Moily was speaking to reporters after taking part in the sixth convocation at SRM University, a private institution in Kattankulathur, a Chennai suburb. Referring to the BJP, the principal opposition party, he said, “They are behaving like urchins, throwing stones and running away.”
Stating that the Congress party had nothing to suppress or hide, the former Karnataka Chief Minister wondered why the opposition was refusing to take part in a discussion in Parliament, adding that it did not augur well for parliamentary democracy.
"When the Parliament session is going on, we are open for a debate. The Prime Minister is repeatedly telling that we are prepared for a full scale discussion in the Parliament,” the minister said and added, “Instead, they (the opposition) were mounting allegations against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a highly proficient man and a great scholar.”
Stating that his (the Prime Minister’s) integrity was blemishless and unimpeachable, Mr Moily said “Those who criticise him will go down in history.” He said it was not proper that the Opposition was running away from its responsibility to discharge its duty at the highest forum.
To a specific question on the affidavit from the Prime Minister’s office, submitted to the Supreme Court, that the issue of licences under the Spectrum deal had permission from the Law Ministry, the senior Cabinet Minister said that the affidavit was now in the Supreme Court and that the proceedings were adjourned to Tuesday and hence he could not comment on it.
On the recent incidents in Karnataka, he termed the developments as “unfortunate” and added, “It is now understood that illegal things have happened.” Alleging that certain Karnataka ministers had given government sites to their relatives, he also alleged that even the state’s Chief Minister had “given sites to his son, son-in-law and relatives that smacked of nepotism in the administration.” He also pointed out that the BJP in Karnataka had tried to induce opposition MLAs into its fold by launching Operation Lotus and Kamal.
On ties with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Mr. Moily said the party was a most valued partner and that the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s allegations against the DMK were only for its (the AIADMK) survival in Tamil Nadu politics.
