Hyderabad:
Despite the monsoon session of Parliament being a near washout so far, the government hopes to resolve the impasse at an all-party meeting today to pave the way for discussion on issues raised by the opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said.
Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can also intervene during the discussions, if required.
“Tomorrow, I have called for an all-party meeting and I hope the meeting will be fruitful and we will be able to resolve the issues and then move forward,” he said.
Congress-led opposition has stalled the proceedings of Parlament insisting on the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for helping “fugitive” former IPL boss Lalit Modi. It is also seeking the resignation of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam scam.
Naidu, while seeking an end to the logjam, defended the three BJP leaders, saying,” As far as the government is concerned, we have not done anything wrong. Nothing illegal, nothing immoral has been done by any of our ministers.
“We are ready to discuss any issue at any length... Government is always ready to walk the extra mile to accommodate views of the opposition, if their request is fair,” he said.
Asked if Prime Minister Modi will intervene during discussions, Naidu said,”...Let me hear from them (opposition parties including Congress) instead of going by media reports and all. If there is a debate, if there is a discussion, and if it warrants, the Prime Minister can intervene, always. He has intervened earlier also.”
The Minister recalled PM’s intervention during discussion on the contentious land bill and farmers’ suicides.
“But, first let me understand what is it they want the Prime Minister to intervene. The other day we were discussing an important issue like terrorist attack in Punjab. But some of my friends in opposition do not have patience even to hear that also,” he said.
“A wrong signal is about to go...we should not. Because on such issues which are sensitive and security related and which are country’s unity related, we must have a frank discussion, we must speak in one voice and we must convey to the international community that our neighbour (Pakistan) is trying to aid, abet, fund, train terrorists and then the focus should be on terrorism,” Naidu said.
Deprecating any blame-game over the disruptions in Parliament, the Minister asked the opposition to allow discussion as there was no substitute for a healthy debate in democracy.
“My request to Congress party and opposition (parties) is to please allow Parliament to function. Whatever you want to say, say it on the floor of the House. You have given notice for motion to discuss about Lalitgate and other issues.
“The government from the day one is saying we are willing to discuss each and every issue. That being the case you should not have any problem. You cannot put any pre-conditions,” Naidu said.
Defending Swaraj and Raje, he said, “My (BJP) Minister Sushma Swaraj is one of the most dynamic and also effective minister and is doing great job. She has not done anything wrong... nothing illegal and nothing immoral has been done by either Swaraj or even Vasundhara Raje, who was not even Rajasthan Chief Minister at that time.”
“It is unfair to drag their names and then carry out a campaign against them. Even if you want to discuss these issues, the government is saying from day one, discuss them in Parliament. Even Sushma Swaraj has also said she is ready to make a statement (in Parliament),” Naidu said.
“But unfortunately, the opposition parties, particularly Congress which has given a notice for discussion, are going back on the discussion and laying pre-conditions...It is not fair,” he said.
He said MPs wanting to discuss agrarian issues, farmers suicides, floods, price rise and holding Indians as hostage in Lybia are being deprived of the opportunity.
Responding to a query on demand for according special status to Andhra Pradesh, he said, “Parliament is on and I don’t want to make any statement on this. It is an emotive issue. Government of India is trying its best to address the problems of the states which are backward and particularly with regard to Andhra Pradesh (where) injustice has been done to the state while bifurcation was done as enough ground work not done.”
“It needs to be addressed and in what way the Finance Minister and Home Minister are looking into it. I have been consistently reminding them on this,” he said.
