Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi raises his pitch in Lok Sabha
Congress leader fears palace coup, says Arun Jaitley
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-07 01:47 GMT
New Delhi: Showing uncharacteristic aggression, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi stormed into the well of the Lok Sabha on Wednesday along with Opposition MPs and accused the Narendra Modi government of not allowing discussion, in Parliament.
As Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to give in to the ruckus demanding a debate on various incidents of communal violence, Mr Gandhi said that “only one man’s (Mr Modi) voice is heard”, and accused the Chair of being “partisan”.
Ms Mahajan immediately rejected Mr Gandhi’s charge and stressed that she ensures equal opportunity to all members and parties. Questioning Mr Gandhi’s “strange behaviour”, finance minister Arun Jaitley said, “Why has the Congress made an issue of this non-issue? The reason is clear: a section of the party, unable to lead, is facing a palace coup.”
Within moments of the House convening on Wednesday, Congress MPs were joined by members from the RJD and Samajwadi Party demanding a discussion on the “rising incidents of communal violence” across the country.
The Speaker ruled, however, that a discussion could be taken up only if a proper notice was given. Dissatisfied with this, the Congress MPs trooped into the well. A little later, Mr Gandhi, who till then was not in the House, joined the agitating members in the well.