Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s suit-boot ki sarkar barb, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday shot back describing the NDA Government as soojh-boojh ki sarkar (a wise Government) and made a direct attack on the Congress leader’s secret foreign jaunts. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated beside him in the lok Sabha, Jaitley took potshots at Rahul, who has been targeting the Prime Minister for his frequent foreign tours.
On Gandhi’s taunt that the Prime Minister is often abroad, Jaitley remarked, “at least we know where the Prime Minister is...PM’s trips are a national duty. There is a difference between a national duty and disappearance for a jaunt.” Jaitley also hit out at the Congress for politicising the farmers’ issue on a day when Gandhi was in Vidarbha on a padyatra to highlight the plight of the farming community. “This is a soojh-boojh ki sarkar. let there be no illusions about it,” said Jaitley provoking the Congress MPs.
Blaming Rahul for irresponsible comments against Modi and the Government, the Finance Minister said: “It is good to be suited but dangerous to be booted out.” Jaitley’s repeated remarks on Rahul’s recent secret vacation provoked Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Congress in lok Sabha. Kharge hit back, saying questions about Rahul Gandhi’s absence should not be posed to him. “You have the Government, the Intelligence set up. You would know. Do not ask me this question...Wherever he goes, he does not publicise,” he said.
To the Congress’ jibe that Modi is all-powerful and Ministers have no powers, the Finance Minister said, “Yesterday your leader (Rahul Gandhi) said the PM is outside the country often, today you say he is a hands-on PM and does not let other Ministers work...Make up your mind.”
Attacking the Opposition for its strident resistance to the controversial land Bill, he told them that they should not resort to a misinformation campaign that the law was aimed at helping corporates and was against the interests of farmers.
“Any delay in the vikas yatra (march of development) of the poor can be painful...So far, you are indulging in a hit-and-run debate on the land Bill. Now let me ask why did CMs of UPA-ruled States demand a change in the lawIJ” he asked. He said the more the Opposition resists the land Bill, “the more you will be opposed. 60 per cent of the village population is landless,” he said. He said the Government wants village infrastructure but there will be no land. There would also be no land for affordable housing.