New Delhi: Launching a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during proceedings in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Congress MP Priyanka Vadra Gandhi would have performed better as Leader of Opposition as she “at least comes to Parliament and listens”.
Rijiju made the comments during his reply to the debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla. The remarks triggered reactions from Opposition members.
Without naming Gandhi, the BJP minister mentioned past instances of “hug” and “wink” by Congress leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to claim he is “not serious” in his conduct.
“I have never seen such a leader, who comes and hugs the Prime Minister, then goes back to his seat and winks at fellow party MPs (aankh maarta hai),” Rijiju said.
The hug-and-wink instance referred to by Rijiju is from 2018 which the BJP as well as PM Modi had criticised.
“There are many good people on your side as well. But since you have made him the Leader of the Opposition, we cannot do anything about it. It is not in my hands. Look, Priyanka Vadra Gandhi-ji is sitting behind and smiling. If she had been made the Leader of the Opposition, perhaps the performance would have been better. At least she sits and listens; your Leader of the Opposition does not even listen. She even smiles,” he added.
When the Opposition reacted angrily to his statement, Rijiju clarified that he has publicly maintained that as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, “if any Member of Parliament behaves well, I should praise them. I am a BJP leader and a minister, but as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister it is my duty to praise them. Is praising someone also a crime now? What has happened to the Congress members? They get upset if you say something good, and they get upset if you say something harsh as well,” he added.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reacted after Rijiju concluded his speech and said: “Aaj hasi mujhe isliye aayi kyuki ek hee vyakti hai iss desh mai jo inn 12 saalon mai inkein saamne jhuka nahi hai. Wo neta pratpaksh hain. Aur wo neta pratipaksh kyunki sadan mai khade ho kar sach bol dete hain, bejijhak bol dete hain. Wo sachai jo wo bolte hain. Inse pachti nahi hai. (There is only one person who has refused to bow before them and they are unable to digest this truth).”
Speaking during the debate, Rijiju also criticised Gandhi’s comment in the past that he did not need anyone’s permission to speak in the House. “It could be the PM or Leader of Opposition or any other MP, but no one can speak in the House without permission from the Speaker,” said Rijiju.
The Union minister further claimed that at least 50 MPs from the Opposition personally met him and said they don’t agree with the no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker but had no choice but to be part of it.
Stressing that Birla is impartial, Rijiju said that all MPs, whether new or old, always get a chance in the House. “I can proudly say that I am a member of the same Lok Sabha where Om Birla is the Speaker.”
Criticising the Congress for regular disruptions in the House, the Union minister said BJP has never thrown papers at the Speaker’s chair, never stormed out of the House, and never allowed the dignity of the House to be diminished.
He further accused the Opposition of now trying to decide the role and chairmanship of the Speaker. “They want to control the role of the Speaker as well. They want to decide who sits in the chair… Unfortunately, they are trying to take over the Speaker’s authority,” he added.
The Union minister further said the Speaker is unbiased. “He comes from the ruling party; we also know that. But if the speaker is sitting in the chair, the role is impartial.”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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