I wonder if I should resign, says BJP veteran LK Advani

New Delhi: For the second time in a row, BJP veteran L.K. Advani expressed his distress at the continuous disruption of the Lok Sabha, invoking the party’s gold standard, former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and even going to the extent of saying that he wanted to resign. His outburst immediately led to a war of words between the Opposition and the treasury benches, who blamed each other for the washout of the Winter Session and the senior leader’s outburst.

From his front row seat on the treasury benches, Mr Advani, a part of the BJP’s “Margdarshak Mandal”, kept sitting as the House was adjourned for the day and first summoned textiles minister Smriti Irani, who then called home minister Rajnath Singh.

The 89-year-old veteran parliamentarian remarked: “The disruptions are so disappointing that I wonder if I should resign from the Lok Sabha.” He also said Mr Vajpayee would have been very unhappy with the state of affairs.

A miffed Mr Advani was heard telling Mr Singh that he should ensure that the House runs on Friday and is able to hold a discussion on the demonetisation issue.

“If it does not happen and Parliament is adjourned sine die without a discussion (on demonetisation), it will be considered a washout,” he told Trinamul Congress MP Idris Ali and two BJP MPs.

He was heard saying that a dialogue should be held with the Opposition, specially the Congress, on ensuring a smooth debate on Friday. The veteran leader insisted that a discussion should be held under whatever rule, and no one should see it as a “victory or defeat” for his/her side, suggesting that if Parliament is adjourned sine die with no debate held, it will be a defeat of Parliament.

Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar, who had borne the brunt of Mr Advani’s outburst on December 7, had left the House as soon as it was adjourned Thursday. Earlier, the veteran leader had expressed deep distress at the way the Lok Sabha proceedings were conducted, saying neither the Speaker nor the parliamentary affairs minister was running the House.

A war of words soon broke out between the Opposition and the government over Mr Advani’s reaction, with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi jumping into the exchange. “Thank you Advaniji for fighting for democratic values within your party,” Mr Gandhi tweeted.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said Mr Advani was “clearly berating his own party” and not the Congress. “Advani is an extremely senior parliamentarian and the BJP is deliberately, consciously twisting these things to suggest that his angst and anguish is against the Congress. It is ridiculous. Advani is clearly berating his own party. The positive proof is that you have seen today, yesterday and Monday and some other days,” he said.

The government, on its part, stuck to its stand that Mr Advani was hitting out at the Opposition. “He was of course taking on the Opposition,” parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said.