LoP Rahul raising baseless issues in LS: Piyush Goyal
Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday termed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on reported LPG shortage “pretence”, and accused him of pursuing “foreign agenda” by raising “baseless” issues in Lok Sabha to lower the stature of the country.
Goyal also slammed Gandhi and Congress members for holding a protest at the Makar Dwar of Parliament in violation of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s ruling, and demanded that action be taken against them.
Asserting that the foundation of every single nation is its energy security, Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the government has “bartered” to the US India’s right to determine its relations with different oil suppliers due to a “compromise”. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi also said the war between the US-Israel and Iran is going to have far-reaching consequences. “An important debate on the Union Budget was underway, but it was interrupted to allow the Leader of the Opposition to speak. But he showed no concern for the consumers or the seriousness of the issue. “I believe this is merely a pretence that Rahul Gandhi is trying to display - that he is worried about the consumers or about LPG cylinders. He only wants to bring baseless issues into the House and raise matters to lower the stature of the country. His agenda is not in the national interest,” Goyal alleged.
“I demand action against Rahul Gandhi, his party members and against all those sitting at the Makar Dwar and breaking the rules of Parliament. The speaker has clearly ordered that no demonstrations are allowed there. Yet, they are not only staging a demonstration - they are having a party, eating toast, biscuits and drinking tea.
“They have turned what we consider the sanctum sanctorum, the temple of democracy, into a place for such behaviour,” the minister told reporters inside the Parliament House complex.
Goyal also accused Gandhi of once again violating parliamentary rules and deviating from the subject under discussion. “Once again, we have found the Leader of the Opposition violating all the rules and procedures of Parliament. The speaker, with complete impartiality, repeatedly stated that everyone would be given an opportunity and time to speak on pressing issues.
