Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu made it clear Thursday that the government wouldn't relent to the opposition demand for his colleague Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's resignation."We have already made our stand very clear. There is no question of the minister resigning or removing the minister. The minister has expressed regret and offered apology in both the houses of parliament. The issue was closed then and there itself," Naidu said.For the third consecutive day Thursday, a united opposition persisted with its demand for union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's resignation for reportedly using abusive language at a BJP rally in Delhi.
As the issue was deemed closed after Sadhvi's apology in parliament, Naidu said some parties continued to disrupt legislative proceedings to "make political capital out of the issue".Alluding to the Congress, he said "better standards" and "better responses" are expected from a party that has some 50 years of experience in Indian parliament."Unfortunately, that is not happening. I hope they (the Congress) see reason, they realise the aspirations of the people and then try to cooperate in proper conduct of the house," he said.Naidu said more urgent issues like the recent railway accident in Madhya Pradesh needed attention while parliament was in session.
Highlighting the NDA government's proactive and considerate style of functioning, Naidu said the "government wants to take the parliament into confidence, wants to take the opposition into confidence and take them along with us in moving forward and taking the country forward".Parliament got off to a rocky start in the beginning of the current session and witnessed multiple adjournments in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha following the opposition's protest over the minister's issue.