Sonia Gandhi accuses BJP of holding Parliament to ransom, exhor

• Posted by Sindhuri G August 29, 2012 - Filed in Business - 1,967 views

  NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi launched a blistering attack on BJP, accusing the main Opposition of blackmail and setting the stage for an extended political impasse that has already stalled Parliament for the past week.

  With BJP relentless in its demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh resign over irregularities in coal block allocations, as alleged by the national auditor in a recent report, the Congress chief and chairperson of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance exhorted her party members to "stand up and fight aggressively".
  
  In her first public response to the controversy, Gandhi defended the prime minister and targeted BJP on a day it later became clear that there was no threat to the longevity of the government, with Congress' most mercurial ally, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, stating that she wanted the UPA to complete its full term.
  
  Addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), a combative Gandhi accused BJP of holding Parliament to ransom and said, "I have said it many times before and I will say it again: the government and the prime minister are always prepared for debate and discussion on any issue, on any CAG report, or, for that matter, any perceived shortcoming on their part."
  
  However, she added, "But the proper forum for this is an active and involved Parliament, not one that is held to ransom by blackmail which has become the political bread and butter of BJP, much to the concern of even some of its allies."
  
  BJP was quick to reject Gandhi's remarks. "A government whose integrity has been painted black in the coal deals does not need to be blackmailed," said Arun Jaitley, leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. "Right since the days of Bofors, the staple diet of Congress is kickbacks and commissions," he said.
  
  
  

  A day after the prime minister gave a detailed statement on coal block allocations, which have resulted in potential gains of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private companies according to CAG estimates, Gandhi directed her party members to flag the government's achievements.
  
  "We are now entering a period in which elections will consume much of our time. We have many achievements. We have nothing to feel defensive about," the Congress president said, in a speech clearly aimed at rallying of her troops ahead of crucial elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
  
  Bolstered by his party chief's stance, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal said the government would be forced to get a few Bills passed even amid the bedlam gripping Parliament.
  
  'BJP INDULGING IN FALSE PROPAGANDA'
  
  Bills such as the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which replaces a recent ordinance that allowed six AIIMS-like institutes to become operational from September, 2012, would have to be passed despite disruption, he said.
  
  "Classes have to begin in these institutes from September15. So we will have to pass the Bill," he said, terming the Opposition's attitude "nothing short of fascism".