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Turning the tables on the Opposition, which has been carrying put noisy protests, demanding a discussion in the Lok Sabha since the Winter session began, the Government on Friday demanded an apology for paralysing the House functioning.
After weeks of impasse, the Government, which is in a majority in the House, was emboldened by President Pranab Mukherjee’s dismay on Thursday that no business was being transacted in Parliament due to continued disruption.
As soon as the House assembled for the day, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge rose to make some points but BJP members shouted back referring to the President’s observations and demanded an apology, triggering a fresh round of Opposition protest.
Incidentally, the Opposition seemed to have climbed down from their earlier demand for discussion with voting. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was said to be all ready to take on the government on the issue of distress following demonetisation.
“The Government is running away from debate...if they allow me to speak then you will see what an earthquake will come," he told reporters before the session began.
In the House, Kharge said his party was “ready for a discussion on demonetisation and its repercussions.”
He later told reporters that in the morning the Speaker had agreed to consider their request for a discussion and said she would take up the matter with the Government.
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar turned the tables on the Opposition, saying it had disrupted the House for 16 days and held it to ransom and must tender an apology.
“For 16 days they have disrupted the House and held it hostage. Majority wanted to debate. But Congress, TMC and Left members are not allowing the House to function. The situation has reached such a stage that the President had to speak against the disruption. They must tender apology to the people of the country,” he said.
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said for protests and sit-ins, as suggested by the President, Jantar Mantar is the best place and not Parliament.
Amid the din, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar tabled a Bill to amend the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007, before the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
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