BHUBANESWAR: In a rare occurrence in the Assembly, the Opposition Congress on Monday joined hands with the BJD in criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s style of functioning and his alleged ‘suit boot ki sarkar’.
Rabi Narayan Naik (BJP) raised the issue during Zero Hour and demanded an apology from Minister of State for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma for making some remarks against the Prime Minister during a discussion on a motion on Central neglect in the House on December 3. Naik said Dasburma had criticised the Prime Minister for running a ‘suit boot ki sarkar’ and his frequent foreign trips.
The Congress defence of the Minister’s statement against Modi was stronger than the ruling BJD members. The BJP members walked out from the House during the pre-lunch session in protest against the criticism of the Prime Minister by Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra.
The BJP members again raised the issue during the afternoon session and demanded an apology from Dasburma. The BJP members walked out from the House during the afternoon session also.
The Leader of the Opposition intervened while BJP and BJD members were exchanging words over the Minister’s statement against the Prime Minister. “I do not think there is any objectionable remark against the Prime Minister which needs to be expunged from the record of the House,” Mishra said.
Stating that this was the stand of Congress, Mishra said he fully supported the Minister’s statement which is based on facts.
“How can the Prime Minister afford to stitch his suit in London while 77 per cent of the country’s population survive by spending less than Rs 20 a day?” he asked.
Mishra also criticised the Prime Minister for speaking against the Opposition political parties during his foreign trips. “You were given a heavy mandate by the people of Bihar in 2014 and the same people rejected you (Modi) in 2015. Similar is the BJP’s situation in Gujarat Zilla Parishad polls,” Mishra said.
Coming down heavily on the BJP, Mishra said, “We are run by a Government which is inspired by the ideology of Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation.” While Congress and BJD members were surprised over Mishra’s statement, angry BJP members walked out in protest. The ruling BJD members welcomed Mishra’s statement by thumping the desk.
However, a senior Congress member Prafulla Majhi supported the BJP members in the House by stating that personal aspersion should not be made against a Prime Minister.