New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday said the government is ready to discuss all issues in Parliament, including students’ protests, and asked the Opposition to let the House function.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Shah also asserted that he will give a reply to the debate and urged the Opposition to give a notice to Lok Sabha speaker for a discussion on the topic by 2 pm Wednesday.
“We are ready to discuss all the issues in Parliament, including students’ protests; let the House function,” the home minister said.
“If the Opposition gives it in writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 2 pm today, we can start a discussion at 3 pm today until 3 pm tomorrow,” Shah said.
“If the discussion starts at 3 pm today, I will give a reply tomorrow at 3 pm,” the home minister said, adding: “Now, the Opposition has to decide whether they want to do a discussion or uproar in Parliament.”
Shah took exception to the Opposition members using terms like “missing and fugitive ” for him, saying that he has been regularly coming to Parliament, but there is “no point” in entering the House when the Opposition is not allowing it function.
“Words like ‘missing’ and ‘fugitives’ are terms that have only recently begun to be heard in India’s public and parliamentary discourse. Ever since the Parliament session began, I have been coming regularly and sitting in my chamber. Since the Opposition is not allowing either of the two Houses of Parliament to function, what is the point of going there?” the home minister asked.
Shah said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has already made it clear that the government is ready to discuss all issues, including students’ protests on NEET paper leak.
“It was the Opposition’s demand. We agreed to it… From my side, I conveyed that I am also ready for any questions in Parliament. But they do not want to allow any discussion. Now people should decide who is running away,” he said.
Shah urged the Opposition to come for a discussion on the issue in Parliament and give a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker in this regard.
“I say this again: give a letter to the speaker by 2 pm today… We will start the discussion at 3 pm and I will give a reply tomorrow at 3 pm,” he said.
On the Opposition demanding a statement from him, the Home Minister said discussion can not be held in such a manner on such an issue.
“There are rules for discussion in Parliament… We are ready for all kinds of discussions. I will remain present in the House. I will listen to everyone and give a reply. The government has nothing to hide,” he said.
Shah further said he will also discuss why the Opposition “doesn’t want” a discussion (on the issue). “The NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is ready for a discussion on all issues. Just let the House function,” he added.