No democratic essence in Congress protests : Rajiv Pratap Rudy

5 Dariya News

New Delhi 10-Aug-2015

Accusing the Congress of "using brutal force" in parliament to disrupt proceedings, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday said there was no any "essence of democracy" in their protests."They are using brutal force (to disrupt proceedings of the house), it's not an 'akhara' (wrestling arena), there should be some essence of democracy," Rudy said in a news programme on India Today TV channel.On whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would make any effort to reach out to the agitating Congress to save the remaining three working days of parliament, the minister said there should be a "feeler" that they are willing to listen."There is no communication gap," Rudy said, adding that Modi has spoken in parliament many a times in the past one year."The day we realise or get a feeler, we would go to them," he said.

Speaking on suspension of 25 Congress members from Lok Sabha, the minister said "they wanted this to happen"."The speaker had told them not to bring in placards and no protests in the well of the house," he said, adding that they kept on doing everything they were asked not to.Reiterating that the government was ready to debate everything in parliament, Rudy said: "Let the house start talking."On Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi raising questions on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rudy said he speaks outside parliament and deserves no answers."Why can't he come inside and speak in parliament?" he asked.

On GST, whether the government would be able to get it passed in the remaining working days of the ongoing monsoon session, Rudy replied in the negative."GST was a brainchild of the Congress, they have (now) gone back on seven of eight points they had come up with in their own bill," he said.Asked about reservation of BJP members on the land bill, he said: "The government will do what is good for the country."He also held the Congress responsible for hindering economic growth of the country by not letting parliament function.