Angry at the government’s last-minute decision to extend the budget session by three days, several opposition parties rallied around the Congress on Friday, which led the attack against the decision calling it “dictatorial”.
“It’s a unilateral decision. The House was not taken into confidence, nor was the Opposition. They (govt) take a decision and impose it on the BAC (Business Advisory Committee). This is dictatorship. This dictatorship will not be allowed in a democracy,” Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said.
MPs from the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Left parties trooped into the Well to protest the decision. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had to adjourn the House twice during Question Hour.
Kharge made it clear that they weren’t against working for three extra days but the unilateral manner in which the extension was carried out: “The consent of the House was not taken... You (Speaker) don’t know, we don’t know, but the press knows it.”
Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu conceded that some leaders – who could not be contacted last evening — were informed about the plan this morning. But he said there had been several instances earlier when even the BAC — that works out the work plan for the House — was not consulted.
{{/usCountry}}Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu conceded that some leaders – who could not be contacted last evening — were informed about the plan this morning. But he said there had been several instances earlier when even the BAC — that works out the work plan for the House — was not consulted.
{{/usCountry}}Leaders of other parties including the Trinamool Congress and Biju Janata Dal stressed how this ad-hoc decision of the government would inconvenience them, and their constituents.