Union Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday appealed to the Congress to cooperate with the government in passing GST and all other pending Bills and expressed hope that Parliament would function smoothly as the opposition party was “sending some positive signals”.
Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Mr. Naidu urged Congress to rethink its strategy and allow Parliament to function. Hitting out at Congress for adopting a 4D strategy — disrupt Parliament, divert attention, defame government and drive vicarious satisfaction, he asked the Congress MPs to take up in Parliament if they had any issues, instead of disrupting it. He said that in all 18 Bills were pending to be passed in Rajya Sabha.
Criticising Congress for indulging in show of strength in front of a court, he said “leaders are supposed to set examples and high standards in public life”. What would happen to judicial system and rule of law if everybody, who get summons, start mobilising people, he asked and demanded the Congress to explain.
Mr. Naidu said Congressmen taking to streets, holding ugly demonstrations and burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at some places was “highly irresponsible and condemnable”. The partymen’s action was tantamount to putting indirect pressure on the judicial system.
Referring to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s remark that the NDA was pursuing “vendetta politics”, he said the fact was otherwise. The Congress party was pursing vendetta politics against the people because they defeated that party and gave a massive mandate to Mr. Modi.
Mr. Naidu asserted that the government had no role in National Herald case. It was filed by Subramanian Swamy in 2012-13 during Congress regime when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister.
He also wanted people to see the contrasting responses of BJP leaders and Congress leaders to court summons.
When Mr. Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister was issued summons, he went and deposed before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for eight hours. There was no rally or hungama , he added. Similarly, when BJP president Amit Shah was sent to jail, the party never stalled Parliament.
The Minister charged the Aam Admi Party with making ‘wrong propaganda” against Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in order to divert people’s attention from serious cases its government was facing.
Mr. Jaitley was the most popular, dynamic and Honest minister with impeccable character and maintained highest standards whatever public position he held. The allegations against Mr. Jaitley were probed by Serious Fraud Investigation Office during Congress regime earlier and nothing was found against Mr. Jaitley.
