In Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha aggression, BJP sees desperation

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 06, 2014:  The NDA government, taken aback by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s fiery protest on Wednesday in the Well of the Lok Sabha on a teacher’s gangrape in Meerut, has reacted by calling the new show of aggression a sign of frustration and desperation after the party’s loss in the general elections.

"This depicts frustration," said BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

On Rahul Gandhi accusing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan of being partial towards the BJP for not allowing a debate on incidents of riots, Rudy said: "It’s unfortunate and avoidable the words Rahul-ji has used."

But Anurag Thakur, another BJP MP, saw another reason. "Is it just because voices from within the party are questioning his leadership (that) Rahul-ji was forced to come into the Well (of the House)?"

The Shiv Sena was more caustic.

"The Congress is a small party. MPs from small parties always come to the Well protesting," said Sanjay Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP of the party.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said he felt "sad" at the protest.

"I won’t take anyone’s name but I am sad at the way Congress is behaving in Lok Sabha. I can’t understand why is Congress behaving like this? We had agreed to discuss all issues. People have given us majority. The Congress should accept the verdict or it will prove to be costly for them in future. Acche din aaye hain desh ke liye, log sukhi hain, Congress ke bure din ho sakte hain," said Naidu.

The Congress has been seeking a debate on the alleged gangrape and forced conversion of a Hindu teacher in Meerut in UP and rising incident of communal violence in the country.

After his protest in the House, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for not allowing a debate on the incident.

"We are not being allowed to speak in Parliament. We are asking for discussion. There is a mentality in the government that discussion is not acceptable. Everybody feels it, their party feels it, we feel it, everybody feels it," he told reporters outside Parliament, reported PTI.

"There is a mood in Parliament that only one man’s voice counts for anything in this country," he said after Congress members stormed the Well of the House demanding a discussion on growing incidents of communal tension.

"We are raising a point, we are asking for discussion...The Speaker, I mean...It is completely one-sided, partiality. That’s what we are raising," Gandhi said.

Reacting to a reporter’s comment that he was raising his voice for the first time and leading from the front, Gandhi said, "I have raised my voice many times in Parliament."

Congress had earlier given notice of on adjournment motion in Lok Sabha over rising incidents of communal violence in the country.