The BJP on Thursday protested against the passing of the Appropriation Bill without any debate in the Rajya Sabha with M Venkaiah Naidu blaming the Government squarely for it.
Naidu said that with a lot of pain and agony he was tabling his statement on the Budget in the House. This is unprecedented situation arising due to Government’s failure to manage the situation; he said and blamed it for fiscal deficit, current account and revenue deficit, along with trust deficit. He said that the Government has resorted to blackmail the alliance partner DMK by holding CBI raid against it a day after it left the coalition. He also said that members are protesting against it.
Naresh Gujaral of Akali Dal said, “The Government should be laid on mattress for destroying the economy, instead I am constrained to lay my statement on table.”
Nominated member Anu Aga and many other complained that they had not prepared any written statement. Deputy Chairman EMS Nachiappan allowed them to submit it by evening which will be incorporated as record of the proceedings of the House. In view of the paucity of time, the Government after holding discussion with opposition leaders had devised this solution, he informed.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram assured agitated members that he would go into all individual responses and address them after which the bill was passed by a voice vote and returned to the lok Sabha.