NEW DELHI: The ruckus created by the Opposition over Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s hate speech in the Lok Sabha saved the day for some unprepared NDA Ministers, who not only fumbled but also gave incomplete replies prompting even members from the Treasury Benches to express displeasure. The strongest response came from BJP MP from Rajasthan, Dushyant Singh, who told Minister of State for Transport P Radhakrishnan that “he does not know about his subject.”
Singh, son of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, had asked about road projects and lack of budget to complete them. “When the ministry does not have enough money to construct 8,500 roads, which is targeted by March end, how do they intend to make the roads? They are not saying this fact. Tell us how you will construct the roads through EPC model,” Singh had asked.
After the Minister’s reply that government was also considering the EPC model as many PPP projects were not receiving bids, Singh reacted angrily, surprising several members from treasury benches. “I’m saddened by the fact that the Minister does not know about his subject. His bureaucrats have given him papers on that....,” Singh said.
Later, Hema Malini, BJP MP from Mathura, was visibly upset after Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh dodged her question on the pathetic road condition under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna saying the matter relates to state government.
Hema wanted to know present status of Uttar Pradesh under the PMGSY as the roads connecting “Braj Parikrama” are in bad shape.
Similarly, Keerti Azad, BJP MP from Darbhanga, Bihar protested over the incomplete reply to his question on blacklisting of companies involved in road construction scam and the slow pace of road construction. Azad protested after the Rural Development Minister admitted slow progress but clarified that the state was responsible for allocating the work. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had to intervene after promising Azad that she would allow a half an hour debate on the issue if he wanted.
Earlier on December 1, Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya, Junior Minister for Agriculture, gave a different reply to the question by Prahlad Singh Patel, BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh. To a query on agreements with foreign countries on exchanging meteorological information, Kundariya had informed the House about several pacts with various states on mangoes, vegetables, etc. This even had surprised the Speaker, who asked the minister to understand the questions properly before replying.