NEW DELHI, Aug 13: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused the Congress of repeatedly disrupting Parliament during the Monsoon Session and said the government was disappointed with the low level of debate and productivity in both Houses.
Addressing a press conference after Parliament was adjourned sine die, Rijiju said the Lok Sabha recorded only 19 per cent productivity, while the Rajya Sabha functioned at 39 per cent during the session.
“For the first time, we have seen the Opposition running away from debate in Parliament when the Government wanted discussions. Congress is solely responsible for unfairly disrupting the proceedings,” he said.
Rijiju said 12 Bills were passed during the Monsoon Session but only one of them witnessed debate in both Houses.
The session, which began on July 20, was marked by repeated disruptions over the NEET paper leak controversy and allegations concerning donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The Opposition later demanded a discussion on the alleged police action against students protesting over the NEET paper leak and sought the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.
Rijiju said the government had offered a debate on the NEET issue and a reply from Shah on Monday in an attempt to break the deadlock, but the Congress rejected the proposal.
A similar proposal was made again on Wednesday but was also turned down by the principal Opposition party.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition wanted answers on allegations that protesting students were targeted with pellet guns.
Gandhi said the Opposition was not interested in hearing what he described as Shah’s “imagination and lecture” in Parliament. He argued that if Shah had ordered action against the students, he was responsible, and if he had not, he was incompetent.
“In both cases, he should resign,” Gandhi said.
