New Delhi: The BJP Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of holding Parliament hostage with his “whims and unruly behaviour” and said that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha does not want any meaningful discussion in the House.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, its national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the government has accepted several demands raised by Gandhi on the NEET and students’ issues and is now ready for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make a detailed statement in Parliament, but the Congress leader is “running away”.
“You have all seen that he runs away from the House during the session and runs abroad after the session… But before running abroad, gather enough courage and summon enough courage to listen to Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement before you leave,” the BJP leader said.
The remarks came a day after the government announced that Shah will reply to a debate on student protests in various parts of the country, but the Congress made it clear that its protests in Parliament will continue till Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologises for the police action against protesters and the alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Rahul Gandhi also said the country was not interested in Shah’s opinion in Parliament on “general topics” and wanted to know if he ordered firing of pellet guns at protesting students.
Hitting out at Gandhi, Trivedi said, “I think our Constitution-makers could never have imagined that the country’s highest House would be held hostage by some spoiled prince on the basis of his unruly behaviour and whims.
“One after another, his demands have been met. He said there should be changes in the rules relating to the NEET examination, and that was accepted. He said stringent laws should be made, and that demand of the students was accepted.”
Trivedi said that demands for a new law, the education minister’s resignation and removing cases against students were also accepted but “every time, he comes up with a new demand.”
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The BJP leader challenged Gandhi to participate in the parliamentary debate instead of disrupting proceedings, saying that the government is ready to respond to every issue point-by-point.
“Do not be afraid. Do not run away. We want to make it absolutely clear: do not run away from the House… We challenge you not to do that. Do not run away; listen. You should listen in the House and then go to Ranchi. But you are neither going to Ranchi nor listening in the House,” he said, referring to the ongoing students’ protest in Jharkhand.
Trivedi said Gandhi’s silence over the ongoing student protest in Jharkhand is particularly striking as the Congress is part of the ruling alliance in the state.
“Your government is in Jharkhand. We are seeing for the first time that those who are in power are standing with the students. If you are with them, pick up the phone and take immediate action,” he said.
He said the Jharkhand students are not protesting over a paper leak but are seeking a CBI probe into allegations of corruption and manipulation in recruitment.
Taking a swipe at Gandhi, Trivedi said it is difficult to predict what the Congress leader plans to do in Parliament.
“What Rahul Gandhi will do or will not do, we are outsiders and cannot say. I think even if you ask the president of the Congress Party, he may not be able to tell you. If you ask Rahul Gandhi himself what he is going to do in Parliament tomorrow, I have my doubts that even AI and Gemini together would be able to tell you what Rahul Gandhi is likely to do tomorrow,” he said.
Trivedi accused Gandhi of avoiding parliamentary proceedings and travelling abroad after Parliament’s sessions.
“I would like to tell him that it is natural that he will once again run abroad after the session. But before running abroad, gather enough courage and summon enough courage to listen to Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement before you leave,” he said.
