by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Sadhvi issue continues to rock Parliament
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New Delhi, Dec. 4 The face-off between the Modi government and the combined Opposition in Parliament continued despite the Prime Minister urging the parliament to accept Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti"s apology for making an abusive remark. While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after repeated disruptions and Lok Sabha continued its business as usual after the entire Opposition walked out of the House. The AIADMK and the BJD did not join the Opposition chorus of sacking the minister of state Sadhvi Jyoti saying that the apology was enough. The Prime Minister's plea that being first time MP and a minister and coming from a certain "background" , she used certain words at an election rally which she should not have used. "I had made my displeasure clear on the very day the abusive statement was reported in the media. Now, that the minister has apologised, therefore, let the House function." The PM went on to say that "It is a lesson, we should all speak carefully." In fact, the Prime Minister was to come to the Rajya Sabha at 12 noon as Thursday was his Question Hour time. But he came at 11 in the morning and had come prepared to make a statement on the Sadhvi issue bowing to the demand of the Opposition. Since Monday, the Opposition has been making the absence of the PM from the House an issue and also wanted action against the Sadhvi. In the Lok Sabha, leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said, "What we are demanding is Prime Minister's statement condemning the conduct of the minister. But he even refused to make a mention of it." But the Opposition in Rajya Sabha became more vociferous and the PM's appeal had little effect. The 10-party combined Opposition in the Rajya Sabha forced the chair to adjourn for the day without any business. It is clear that the Congress has been able to galvanise the Opposition on the Sadhvi issue and put the Modi government on the backfoot. No doubt, the government has the support of nearly 350 Lok Sabha MPs. But in the Rajya Sabha more than 140 out of the 245 MPs are with the Opposition. Therefore, the government will have to consider whether to allow continuous disruptions in the Rajya Sabha on an emotive issue or get the crucial insurance and other Bills passed. There are as many as six Bills pending for the passage in the Rajya Sabha. |
