News

We will allow Parliament to function if our questions are answered : Rahul Gandhi

by IBNS 10 Aug 2015, 12:22 am

New Delhi, Aug 10 (IBNS) In the first sign of a softening stand, the Congress on Monday told Parliament that the party will allow the House if their questions are answered.

 "We want a discussion in the House. We want our questions to be addressed. The Prime Minister must clear his stand on Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The financial transactions between Lalit Modi and Sushma's family must be made public," Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said.

His statement that appears a slight deviation from the persistent Congress stand of "No resignation, no discussion," came on the day Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav warned the party not to push further with its disruption strategy stalling all Parliamentary proceedings if it wants the SP by its side. 

Rahul said :  "There are financial transfers that have taken place between Lalit Modi and Sushma Swaraj’s family. Sushma Swaraj should explain how much money of Lalit Modi has been credited in her and her family's account? In Madhya Pradesh there are murders happening and our Prime Minister does not comment on them? The PM praises Madhya Pradesh CM and ignores the fact that future of thousands of students have been destroyed by him. The PM ignores that there is a business relationship between a criminal and the Rajasthan Chief Minister."

Rahul, however, continued to voice his party's demand for the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in controversy involving former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi and of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the high-profile Vyapam scam.

Rahul's remarks came after Mulayam Singh Yadav pulled up the Opposition for not letting the House function. "The government must reach out to all opposition parties to end logjam in Parliament. It is the government's responsibility to end disruptions in Parliament. We want the House to function, won't support Congress protest," said Mulayam.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which ends in four days, has been in a complete deadlock  forcing important legislations to be on the shelf with the recalcitrant Congress demanding that the government first remove three top leaders, embroiled in major controversies before anything. 

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje have been accused of surreptitious support to tainted cricket boss  Lalit Modi. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is also in the centre of a storm over the Vyapam scam.

The BJP has ruled out resignations, but has urged the Congress to allow a debate, with the offer that the PM will comment on the controversies. However, the Congress remains unmoved by the offer.

The war of words between the government and the Opposition holds back crucial bills,including the Goods and Services Tax bill to be presented in Parliament.