BJP, Congress end year on combative note

The ruling BJP and the principal Opposition – Congress, ended the 2015 on a bitter note, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the opposition party to vow to let the House function in the new year. To this the Congress came out with a quick rebuttal.

Attacking the Congress over continuous disruptions which have resulted in two back-to-back Parliament sessions being washed-off, Modi while launching the 14-lane Delhi-Meerut expressway at an event in Noida said, “Those who ruled 

India for 60 years have no right to disrupt Parliament’s functioning.” Asking the Congress to “not create hurdles in the country’s development”, Modi said the party was rejected by the people in 2014 and “they should know that.”

Rebutting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his attack on Congress over the disruption of Parliament sessions, the party accused him of having a “confrontational mindset” and sought to put the ball in the government’s court for ensuring the smooth functioning of the Houses. “ A dismissive attitude and disregard for people’s issues has become a hallmark of Modiji’s government. 

He should understand that autocracy is not the way forward, assimilation of ideas is. Modiji only speaks, he has no faith in listening to or understanding others. Prime Minister is an expert in one-way communication. He is a specialist in blaming others for his own failures,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Thursday.

Toeing a similar line senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said Modi has the “dubious distinction” and the “world record of obstruction” as it accused the BJP-led NDA government of practicing vendetta politics. “The Prime Minister needs to be reminded that the Congress has a more positive mindset and approach as compared to him and his party which has the dubious distinction and world record of disruption and obstruction,” he said. Sharma, who is also the deputy leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha said there would have been a better functioning environment both inside and outside Parliament had the Prime Minister given up his confrontationist mindset after the elections and shed his arrogance.

The recent winter session of Parliament was an utter failure with the opposition attacking the government over the DDCA row, inflation and the National Herald controversy. 

The ruling BJP is hoping to pass crucial legislations, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, with the hope of making an economic breakthrough in 2016. Since the party lacks majority in Rajya Sabha, it needs the support of the Congress and other parties to work.