NEW DELHI: Even as the Congress continued to protest against the suspension of 25 MPs of the party by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Sonia Gandhi opened another broadside against the government on Thursday accusing it of keeping the Chief Ministers of the NorthEast states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh in the dark on the contours of the new peace accord signed with NSCN (I-M).
Citing the apprehensions of the NE CMs as also the local people about what the pact entails, the Congress president said that she found the they were “totally blank” on the issue.
“The Naga insurgent groups have been waging a six decade-old battle with Indian State for an independent Greater Nagaland, laying territorial claims over neighbouring Assam, Manipur and Arunchal Pradesh. Nobody has even bothered to brief them (NE CMs),” she said.
“After all, our Chief Ministers are directly affected, be it Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh or Assam. So, what do I take from this? From this I take that this government is arrogant.”
“This government keeps on saying that everybody has to be taken along and that they will hold consultations with all, will take the views of all Chief Ministers. Then what happened? Their arrogance is now more clear than before. And it is an insult not only to the Chief Ministers, but to the people of these states and to the federal structure of our country,” a combative Congress president said.
Meanwhile, the BJP criticised Sonia for questioning the PM for keeping NE CMs in dark. It accused the Congress of harming national interests and security by casting aspersions.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cited several examples of the party’s non-cooperation and said it not even spared a national security issue.
Q/A
Whether government has set up any committees to probe complaints of alleged irregularities in schemes of solar and new renewable energy projects in some states, including Kerala – Kothapalli Geetha (YSR Congress)
Centre has not appointed any commission or committee as it is not related to Central schemes. The matter relates to state government and Kerala has filed a police complaint against that company over which an investigation is on – Piyush Goyal, MoS for Power
Whether the government proposes to upgrade certain highways to world-class express highway? - P R Sundaram (AIADMK)
Yes, the Centre has approved a plan for constructing 1,000 km of Expressways under NHDP Phase-VI at a cost of `16,680 crore – Pon Radhakrishnan, MoS
“The Congress has touched its nadir, absolute bottom in their obstructionist politics. On political issues, you are opposing the government. On economic issues, you are opposing. Today on an issue of national security you are opposing. Whose interest are you serving,” the Union Minister asked.