Venkaiah Naidu slams Opposition on Parl deadlock, calls for healthy debate

Hyderabad, Aug 2: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today slammed Congress and other rival parties over repeated disruptions in Parliament and said the Centre is ready to accommodate view of the Opposition if their request is fair.

Appealing to the Opposition not to indulge in a blame-game, Naidu expressed hope that the issues would be resolved at an all-party meeting called tomorrow.

"I appeal to Congress please do not hurt the interest of the country. Let us not indulge in a blame game. Come to Parliament, let us discuss it.

"Tomorrow I have called for an all-party meeting and I hope the meeting will be fruitful and we will be able to resolve the issues and then move forward," he said.

The senior BJP leader said, "As far as the government (is concerned), we have not done anything wrong, nothing illegal, nothing immoral has been done by any of our ministers. We are ready to discuss any issue at any length... Government is always ready to walk an extra mile to accommodate view of the Opposition, if their request is fair."

Stressing that there is no substitute for a healthy debate in Parliament, he said, "If you want democracy to succeed and if you want people's aspirations to be highlighted then the only way is you raise them in Parliament. And if you want to criticise the government, you can criticise as you have been doing it also."

He requested the Opposition parties to allow Parliament to function even as he asserted that they cannot put any pre-conditions.

"My request to Congress party and Opposition (parties) is to please allow Parliament to function. Whatever you want to say, say it on the floor of the House. You have given notice for motion to discuss about Lalitgate and other issues.

"The government from the day one is saying we are willing to discuss each and every issue. That being the case you should not have any problem. You cannot put any pre-conditions," Naidu said.

Backing party colleagues Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje who are under fire over the Lalit Modi issue, he said, "My (BJP) Minister Sushma Swaraj is one of the most dynamic, and also effective minister and is doing great job. She has not done anything wrong... nothing illegal and nothing immoral has been done by either Swaraj or even Vasundhara Raje, who was not even Rajasthan Chief Minister at that time."

PTI