Narendra Modi has a big heart, will listen to all MPs: BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy in Parliament
New Delhi: Attacking Congress for its 65 years of "misrule", ruling BJP on Tuesday said it was unthinkable that a national party has to be welcomed as a "regional party" in Lok Sabha but promised to take the opposition party along in the decision-making process.
"We never imagined that we will have to welcome a national party as a regional party in this House...What prompted this to happen? Why this mandate?...People have punished you for your misrule for 65 years," BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, initiating a debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
His remarks triggered protests from opposition benches, with Rudy saying that since there was no Leader of the Opposition, Congress would not be able to participate in decision-making on major issues like appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner, CBI Director or Lokpal.
Earlier, Sushma Swaraj (as the Leader of the Opposition) used to give her views, but the then Prime Minister used to have his way. But we will not leave you behind, we will take you along. This is our promise. Our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is large-hearted," Rudy said.
He, however, said Congress party's suggestions would not be accepted "if you give suggestions which reflect the way in which you had been running the country for 65 years".
As the din continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appealed for order and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu urged members not to create any disturbance as it was "the first working day" of the session.
To this, some Congress members shouted, "you never allowed anyone to speak earlier."
Trinamool Congress and CPI (M) members were also on their feet, with some of them urging the Speaker to direct Rudy to speak on the Motion and not digress.
Seconding the motion moved by Rudy, Union minister and LJP President Ram Vilas Paswan said the verdict of the people in favour of the NDA should be respected.
"You cannot call those who voted for NDA as communal... your own leader (Sanjay Nirupam, whom he did not name) has claimed that even Narendra Modi would have lost the election had he contested on a Congress ticket," he said in a dig at the opposition.
He said during election campaign while Modi talked of development, Congress leaders concentrated on defeating Modi.
"There had been so many riots. There had been riots in Muzzaffarnagar, but you keep talking about Godhra. You have been doing this for 12 years," he said.
When he was referring to Modi, the Prime Minister was not present in the House.
He said no political party can oppose what has been mentioned in the President's address regarding uplift of the poor and empowering women and youth.
"We all want that to happen. Can anyone of us say that they are opposed to it," he said amid interruptions by Congress and Trinamool Congress members.
At one point of time, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had to ask members to maintain decorum. She said while occasional interruptions were okay, repeated disruptions were not welcome.
After her observation, Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) was seen asking his party colleague Sultan Ahmed to sit down. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi too was seen asking Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to allow Paswan to speak.
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