Opposition walking out without listening govt reply unfair: Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad: Against the backdrop of Parliament witnessing disruptions last week on different issues, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday wondered how could the Opposition walk out of the House without listening to the government's reply.

"If you raise the issue and if you (have already) made the speech, you must be ready to hear the reply also. If you don't want to hear the reply, then that means you just want only publicity and you feel that you are embarrassing the government," Naidu told reporters here.

The Opposition members walked out when he was replying to the issue of conversions, he said.

Observing that the government made no mistake, he maintained that it does not face issues like corruption, indecisiveness, policy paralysis and price rise.

He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and he (Naidu) have condemned the "thoughtless" comments made by some of the ruling party members.

"There is no question of deviating or diluting the agenda of good governance and development. People are trying to carry disinformation campaign to defame BJP and Narendra Modi," he said.

Referring to opposition criticism on the issue of conversions, Naidu charged that Congress does not want a thorough debate on the issue.

"There is no answer when we say that let's have law banning conversions during Congress regime (in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan). They walked out...thousands and lakhs are converting religions. If there is an in-depth debate, it will trouble Congress," he said.

"If 'Ghar Vapsi' is wrong, then conversion is also wrong. We are against the attempts to convert with the help of money coming from outside. But, we will not unilaterally bring any law banning religious conversions. There should be a nationwide debate. There is no question of government unilaterally bringing a legislation, without involving people and political parties," Naidu said.

Naidu also dismissed Opposition charge that the communal tensions are rising after the NDA government assumed office.

"They say (communal) tensions are rising. I read out figures. The statistics given by all states and media reports say that tensions are coming down after this government came," he said.

Taking exception to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's attack on NDA government over the Saradha scam, he said the Centre does not interfere in the functioning of CBI.

"Whoever is arrested in any case, they are saying it is harassment. Whoever is raided by CBI, they are saying it is political harassment. Trinamool Congress is trying to criticise Narendra Modi ji. We don't interfere in the functioning of CBI. We want CBI to function effectively, independently, judiciously.

"This case against the Saradha chit fund was registered during UPA regime. It was guided by the Supreme Court also. Where is the question of this government misusing CBI. If a minister is involved in a scam, he will be arrested," Naidu said.

Mamata Banerjee is known as a crusader against corruption, but the "way she is responding shows that she is becoming desperate because she is losing ground," he alleged.

Instead of taking action against the corrupt, she is trying to support them which will not be appreciated by people, he claimed.

"If everybody says, any case is registered, do you mean to say that government should not act on scams," he said.

Noting that some are warning that they would not let parliament function from tomorrow, Naidu said such actions would not be appreciated by people.

Replying to a query, the Union Minister said some anomalies in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act needed to be corrected. "Luckily, all (parties and members) are positive (to the changes). Because, all are victims."

Citing an example for anomalies, he said some Rajya Sabha members from Telangana have been allocated to AP and vice-versa.