Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday expressed frustration and disappointment with the Opposition for allegedly avoiding debates in Parliament, saying it was “unthinkable” that the government was ready for discussion while the Opposition was not.
“I am really frustrated that the Opposition is running away from debates in Parliament. It is unthinkable and incomprehensible that, in a parliamentary democracy, the Opposition is running away from debate while the government is insisting on a full-fledged discussion and is also ready to respond.”
"How can Parliament function if there is no discussion? The government cannot present its views or respond in Parliament if the Opposition does not want to listen. Holding placards, raising slogans and even hurling abuses has now been normalised by the Congress party. Congress MPs seem to think that their only job is to raise slogans, hold placards and abuse people. They have forgotten that Parliament is meant for debate and discussion..."
Rijiju, responding to the Opposition’s question over home minister Amit Shah writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla a day before the Monsoon Session ends, said the move came because the Opposition was continuing to disrupt Parliament.
Shah wrote Birla, saying the government is ready to discuss the student protest, urging him to consult with the Opposition on when they want the discussion and to allocate as much time as he deems appropriate.
{{/usCountry}}Shah wrote Birla, saying the government is ready to discuss the student protest, urging him to consult with the Opposition on when they want the discussion and to allocate as much time as he deems appropriate.
{{/usCountry}}He cited Rijiju’s statement at the Business Advisory Committee meeting that the government was ready for a discussion in Parliament on the student agitation and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG) paper leak.
“Amit Shah is writing today only because they are not listening. I have been making an appeal from the first day. I am the representative of the government as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. I am the person conveying the government’s position. I informed the Business Advisory Committee and the House that the government is ready for a full-fledged discussion on the NEET exam paper leak,” Rijiju said.
What Amit Shah said in the letter
In the letter, Shah said that the government is ready for a discussion on the student protests and the subsequent police action, provided the Opposition allows the House to run.
He insisted he is ready to answer any questions in Parliament but the Opposition does not want the discussion to take place. He added that the Opposition should submit a letter to the Speaker by 2pm to begin the debate from 3pm (Wednesday).
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA [National Democratic Alliance] government is ready for discussions. The House should be allowed to run. We are ready to start discussion at 3pm,” he said in a rare statement to journalists outside Parliament.
Shah also slammed the Opposition for using words like "missing" and "fugitive" over his absence from the Lok Sabha, saying such words have recently begun to be heard in India’s public and parliamentary discourse. "Ever since the Parliament session began, I have been coming regularly and sitting in my chamber. But the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to function. So, what is the point of anyone going inside when the proceedings are not being allowed to run?”
Why is the Opposition denying discussion?
Even though the Opposition has continued to attack Shah over his absence in the Parliament and demanded answers from him on the alleged police violence during the Jantar Mantar protests, Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition is not interested in Shah's “lecture”.
The Congress MP said the Opposition was “not interested” in Shah's “lecture” and sought answers over the police action against the protesters.
He asked who had ordered the alleged firing and lathicharge against the student protesters and demanded that the home minister be held accountable. He also alleged that Shah had been absent from Parliament and said the home minister did not have the courage to face the House.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament complex, Rahul Gandhi said, “The Opposition has clearly said that we are not interested in Amit Shah giving us a lecture. When I say 'we', I mean the younger generation of this country. Who shot the students? Who gave the order to beat up the students with lathis with nails? Did Amit Shah give this order to shoot our children? If he did, then he should resign.”
The situation intensified on July 20 during the Sansad Chalo march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, with reports alleging that police used force against protesting students.
The Opposition has since been demanding an explanation from the government and Home Minister Amit Shah over the incident. The Monsoon Session of Parliament also saw repeated disruptions, with the Opposition demanding Shah’s presence in the House.