The Congress on Thursday reiterated its stand to corner the Government in the lalit Modi controversy during the forthcoming Parliament session and simultaneously hit back at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who brushed aside concerns of Parliament’s Monsoon Session being disrupted over the issue.
The party which felt a divided lot on the lalitgate scandal, sounded a note of caution to senior party member and former Union Minister HR Bhardwaj to exercise restraint, in the wake of him questioning party’s strategy in Parliament over the lalit Modi row.
Insisting that the Congress would not allow the Government to brush aside the scam that easily, AICC spokesman PC Chacko said Jaitley’s remarks showed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “zero tolerance” for honesty, probity and accountability.
“BJP and the Prime Minister want to ride this out... By shamelessly brazening it out. People of India will not allow them to go off the hook without giving an answer. All lame excuses are unacceptable,” AICC spokesman P C Chacko said.
Jaitley had said the Bills to amend the land Acquisition Act and bring in a uniform pan-India Goods and Services Tax (GST) are very crucial for development and hoped no political party takes anti-growth and anti-development position.
On the difference of opinion coming from a top Congress leader, party said Bhardwaj is a very senior leader but he should act with restraint and patience. “At this age, he should instead of targetting his colleagues, give his valuable advice inside party fora. It will help him maintain his respect”, party spokesman Meem Afzal said.
Afzal’s remarks came in the wake of Bhardwaj questioning the recent statements of senior party colleagues that the functioning of Parliament would be affected if no action was taken against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.