BJP objects to Rahul's written speech

{image-rahhulgandhi speech323_14032008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Mar 13: Why was there an exception for two -- Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi-- to read out their written speeches in Parliament? This question was posed today by the BJP which said as per the parliamentary norms, only the ministers or the member making his maiden speech are allowed to do so. But this is not the case with either UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi or her son Rahul Gandhi, BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra told newspersons, referring to Mr Rahul Gandhi's speech in the debate on the General Budget 2008-09 in the Lok Sabha today.

The party has failed to understand why the norms are always relaxed for the two, he said, adding the Congress should think over it, particularly in the case of Mr Rahul Gandhi, whom it is projecting as the country's 'future prime minister'. Mr Malhotra, although thanking Mr Gandhi for vindicating the BJP's point that there is need to differentiate between the farmers, having holdings in draught prone or dry land and those having holdings in the irrigated land, however, criticised him for making no mention about the price rise which is hitting the common man badly.

He said Mr Rahul himself talked about two classes--one whose voice always gets heard and the other, whose voice are never heard. ''He knows it very well that inflation and price rise hits the second class who are never heard.'' Besides the Budget has no provisions for eradicating unemployment which is growing day by day, he said.

UNI