Venkaiah Naidu slams Congress for disrupting Parliament over Gurdaspur terror attack

New Delhi: Attacking Congress over disruptions in Parliament, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said it was unfortunate that the main Opposition party was "disturbing" the House on a day of terror strike in the country as many other parties joined together in condemning the incident.

Naidu also also took a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi on his Kisan padyatra and the dharna of Opposition parties from Left and Janata Parivar in the national capital on farmers issues saying they agitate outside but do not allow Parliament to discuss these issues.

"In such matters (Gurdaspur terror attack), there should be no politics. We should speak in one voice. While many Opposition parties have joined together in condemning this terrorist attack and are also expressing solidarity, it is unfortunate that the main Opposition party, which ruled the country for years started disturbing even those statements.

"It is sending a very wrong signal. They should understand. I appeal to them. The entire country, and more so a party like Congress, should speak in one voice at least on issues of national security," he said apparently seeking to project Congress as isolated in Parliament.

On the farmers' issues, Naidu said, "Today farmers' issues were raised (in Parliament). People are making comments outside. Some people are also taking a padyatra but they do not allow a debate inside Parliament."

After a washout of Lok Sabha proceedings for a week, noisy protests by the opposition over Lalit Modi, Vyapam and other issues today led to repeated adjournments of the House.

Naidu said that he had assured members in Lok Sabha that the incident was a serious one and the government was willing to make a statement on the issue and even discuss the issue once the encounter between the security forces and the terrorists was over.