Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi has termed “utterly irresponsible” the disruption of the proceedings of the Lok Sabha by the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday.
Mr. Singhvi, on a private visit here, was talking to journalists at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, party headquarters.
The “disruption” had begun from day one of the winter session. This was happening with “monotonous regularity” on “one excuse or other.” But the “intention and result” were the same, he said.
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He alleged that the BJP was trying to undermine the focus of the nation, and the current exercise was nothing but a “witch hunt.” “It was obstinacy at its worst.”
The BJP wanted the resignation of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, despite the Supreme Court having reserved orders on initiating any action against him. “The party says with mulish obstinacy that we will not wait for the court but physically disrupt Parliament. If you don't like a government, can you say that I will not allow Parliament to function till the government resigns?”
Mr. Singhvi pointed out that George Fernandes resigned from the NDA government as Defence Minister only after a commission of inquiry was constituted. “Even after that, he was brought back [to the Cabinet] through the backdoor after a few months. The BJP is suffering from selective amnesia.”
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“Is it fair to precipitate a crisis for cheap, political sensationalism,” he asked. Thirty-one important pieces of legislation were waiting for Parliament's approval, he pointed out.
Mr. Singhvi refuted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's allegation that the State had been meted out a “step-motherly” treatment in funds allocation. He wanted her to cite a single instance wherein the State was ignored when there was a pressing need.
As nuclear energy was vital for the country's development, he said, there was no sense in protesters continuing their agitation against the Kudankulam nuclear power project, even after several assurances to them about the safety of the reactors.