The Narendra Modi government was on Tuesday accused of the worst form of “unparliamentary behaviour” after it rejected the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on price rise despite the Prime Minister’s emphatic assurance that he wanted a debate on every issue.
As both Houses of Parliament were adjourned amid ruckus by the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Rupee has crossed the 80-mark (versus dollar). Cooking gas is already beyond Rs 1000. In June alone, over 1.3 crore lost their jobs. Now GST imposed on even food grain. Nobody can stop us from raising these issues. The Government will have to answer. Running away from debate in Parliament and questions of opposition is the worst form of unparliamentary behaviour, Mr Prime Minister.”
While members of several Opposition parties protested in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Parliament complex, raising slogans against soaring prices and imposition of GST on essential items such as rice, wheat flour, curd and lassi, the Youth Congress staged demonstrations outside the petroleum ministry against the abnormally high prices of petroleum products.
The Congress asked why the government was stalling a debate on prices, and recalled that every other government conceded such discussions.
Rahul also posted a message on Facebook: “Abki baar, Vasooli sarkar (This time, extortionist government). Now 5% GST will be extracted from packed milk, curd, butter, rice, pulses, bread… etc. All items of daily use have become costlier. Cylinder is sold for Rs 1053 but the Government says all is well. What this means is that inflation is the problem of the people, not of the Government.”
Rahul said Narendra Modi had made prices the biggest issue when he was in the Opposition but today he has pushed the people into a deep swamp of problems. “People are sinking. But the Prime Minister is silent on your helplessness. He is happy and lying continuously. I and the Congress party will stand with you against the atrocities done to you by the government. We will raise these issues in Parliament with full force. Let the Prime Minister try to silence us by declaring most of the words unparliamentary, but he will have to answer questions.”
Though Modi promises to allow debates on every subject as a ritual before the start of every session, his assurances have proved to be hollow public posturing, aimed at controlling the narrative. Over the last few sessions, the demands of the Opposition for debate on critical issues like one of the greatest farmers’ movements in history, Pegasus snooping, Chinese intrusion, unemployment and price rise have fallen on deaf ears. Many sessions were badly affected because of turmoil in both the Houses.
Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Shaktisinh Gohil said at a press conference on Tuesday: “Several members from different Opposition parties gave notices for discussion on price rise. Issues troubling the masses need to be discussed in Parliament. Items never taxed in the last seven decades have been taxed now. The poor can’t give even jaggery and bread to their children. GST has been imposed even on cremation. The government needs to answer why the prices are soaring. But the government is not willing.”
The Congress gave notices under Rule 267, which entails suspension of other business for an urgent discussion on a subject. Gohil said previous governments have accepted discussions under this rule on less important issues.
“The Prime Minister continuously gives sermons to everybody but doesn’t want to hear our voices. We want to tell him about the sufferings and miseries of the people. His policies have made their survival difficult. He should listen to us and respond to our concerns,” said Gohil.
