PM scared to face truth on Naravane’s book: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not come to the Lok Sabha to reply to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, as he was scared of the issue of former Army chief MM Naravane’s book.

Rahul Gandhi also dared those claiming that there was a threat to the prime minister from members last Thursday to “file an FIR” against the person threatening Modi.

In another development, Rahul Gandhi, along with some Opposition leaders, on Monday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and apprised him about the issues he wants to raise in the House.

On the issue of logjam in parliament, he claimed the Government is scared of having a discussion on the Budget because of the issue of the US deal, the way it was done, and its impact on farmers.

“We are very disturbed about this idea that has been floated that members were going to threaten the PM. There is no question of that. The fact is very clear, the prime minister was scared to come to the House, not because of the members but because of what I was saying, and he is still scared because he cannot face the truth,” Rahul Gandhi said.

There was no question of the Congress members attacking the prime minister, he said. “He (Modi) should have the courage to come. I also mentioned that ‘look, if somebody has said that he is going to attack the PM. Please do an FIR, arrest that person. Why are you not doing that!” Gandhi said.

“The agreement is that we will be allowed to say these points, and then the discussion should happen,” he said. Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition is quite keen that the discussion happens.

“But let us see what the Government says. My personal view is that the Government is scared to have a debate. The PM did not come to the House. He was scared of what we say, he was scared of being handed Naravane’s book as a first step,” Gandhi said.

“My guess is the Government is worried about having a debate on the Budget because the issue of the US deal, the way it was done, its impact on our farmers, is going to be

discussed, and the Government does not want to do that,” he said. Rahul Gandhi said the matter started a few days ago when the issue of the Naravane book came to the fore.

He also alleged that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a false claim that the book was unpublished.

“The book has been published, and we have got a copy of it,” the Congress leader said.

As regards the meeting with Speaker Birla, sources said Rahul Gandhi listed the suspension of the Congress members and allegations against them of wanting to attack the prime minister as issues to be discussed.

The meeting, which lasted a few minutes, took place after proceedings in the lower house were adjourned for the day amid a standoff between the Government and the Opposition over Gandhi’s demand that he be allowed to speak before the discussion on the Union Budget begins.

Sources said Rahul Gandhi told the Speaker that he wanted to raise the issue of suspension of eight Congress MPs and other issues relating to Parliament, including the charges made against the women MPs.

Birla had stated in the House last week that he had “concrete information” that many Congress members might move towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seat and carry out “some unexpected act” as a result of which he had requested him not to come to the House to reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, DMK leader TR Baalu and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were also present along with Rahul Gandhi during his meeting with the Speaker.

The Opposition leaders urged the Speaker to revoke the suspension of eight Opposition MPs of the Lok Sabha to end the stalemate.