Both the leaders were speaking at a discussion “A new vision for India” at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. Asked their views on the rise of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, which exits polls have predicted would make a strong debut in Delhi assembly polls, Jaitley said it has to be seen whether it is a long lasting phenomena or not.
Jaitley had earlier dismissed AAP's presence in the fray, saying opting for it would be a waste of vote. However, today he seemed to have reconciled to its emergence, admitting that he had no other choice on the matter but to welcome it. Whether results, which would be announced tomorrow, back up the buzz about it in elections remain to be seen, he added.
Singh said he would welcome all civil society members, who want powers without accountability, in politics.
Singh blamed BJP's confrontational attitude since 2004, when it lost power, for pending bills and loss of work in Parliament.
“Highest number of bills pending are in present Lok Sabha and on number of occasions on petty issues Parliament was not allowed to function. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh can be charged on any issue but not for confrontation. He is one man who is not a confrontationist,” he said. Jaitley said it was a myth that BJP was not allowing economic legislation to go through in Parliament. He blamed the slowdown on “executive decision-making and weak prime ministerial authority which lacked in overruling” one voice in favour of another.
“If you slow down on infrastructure it is not Parliament that comes in between. If you slow down on clearing 700 thousand crores worth of project, it is not Parliament coming in between...
“Now within the government there are difference of opinion and prime ministerial authority is lacking in certainly overruling in favour of another, the slowdown is because of that,” he said.
