new delhi, Jul 20
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday criticised the government for not allowing discussions in Parliament on issues such as the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the NEET UG paper leak, saying Parliament “cannot be a notice board” for announcing and passing government bills.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Tharoor said the opposition wanted to raise several key issues, including the alleged “Ayodhya chanda chori”, the NEET paper leak and concerns highlighted by the Congress under its ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative, but the government was unwilling to allow a debate.
“I don’t know why are thy scared of a discussion?” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.
“Everyone knows these are burning issues across the country, it would be logical to have a discussion on them. Parliament is supposed to be the place where we can ventilate the voice of the people, the concerns of the people and once we do that, we all know the government has a majority. The old saying goes the opposition must have its say because the government will have its way, they have the majority,” Tharoor said.
“But at least let Parliament be a forum where these concerns can be heard, can be truly ventilated and voiced, where various people can represent the voice of their constituents and then the government can say ‘sorry we don’t agree or whatever’, that is their privilege.
But right now just refusing a discussion is what has led to today’s disruption because the opposition wanted to have the opportunity to talk about these issues on the floor of the House,” he said.
Questioning the purpose of Parliament if critical issues cannot be discussed, Tharoor said:
“It (Parliament) cannot be a notice board for government to announce its bills and get them passed with a rubber stamp. That is not what the Parliament is all about, it should be a forum where all these views can be heard, discussed and debated as necessary and then passed,” the Congress leader said.
Calling for cooperation between the treasury and opposition benches, Tharoor said:
“Let them permit certain discussions, we will get them to have their bills. There has got to be give and take that is the way Parliament is supposed to function,” Tharoor said.
Responding to questions about security personnel resorting to baton-charge near Parliament Street after thousands of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters allegedly tried to breach barricades while marching towards Parliament, Tharoor also criticised the police action.
“I don’t understand the spirit in which some of these things are being done, when a non-violent protest is taking place, what is the reason or lathi-charge? Lathi-charge is not an act of non-violence, it is an act of violence. I don’t understand the logic of it,” he said.
Tharoor’s remarks came after the Lok Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, with opposition members raising slogans and displaying placards demanding action against those responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak and the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
