Unfortunate': Govt lashes out at Oppn walkout of LS
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley re-asserted that the govt was willing to have a discussion on both the issues.
New Delhi: Hitting out at the Opposition over the virtual deadlock in Parliament, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday lamented it was unfortunate that Congress was doing politics over Nagrota martyrs.
Speaking to the media outside the Parliament, the transport minister said, “Speaker informed that the combing operations were underway in Nagrota and that once it was over, tribute would be paid in the House to the soldiers. But the Congress party walked out during question hour, and then came back. It is not clear why the Congress walked out despite the Prime Minister’s presence in the House. This is unfortunate. People of the nation hate such small politics."
"Congress neither wants any discussion nor wants House to function as they are scared of being exposed. It's an insult to Nagrota martyrs," Naidu added.
Meanwhile Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also sought to quell the Opposition outrage in Rajya Sabha, re-asserting that the government was ready for discussion of all the matters that were being raised.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with cabinet ministers in his chamber in Parliament including Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar.
When the Lok Sabha convened at 11 am, Modi was present in the House. Opposition members raised the issue of the Nagrota terror attack and the issue of note ban and alleged that scores of people have suffered due to the government’s policies.
The Nagrota attack was raised in Rajya Sabha also, with the Opposition demanding the PM's reply.
The House was later adjourned.
The Opposition is also reportedly seething over the passage of the Income Tax Amendment Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday without a debate, and are likely to take up the issue with the President.