New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today dismissed as “empty bullets” Opposition's attack against government on ordinances and recalled the Emergency period questioning the “audacity” of Congress, which has accused the NDA of bypassing Parliament in making laws.
Rejecting the “Ordinance Raj” charge, Naidu expressed confidence that the government will have its “way” in the Budget session as the Opposition declared its intent to vociferously oppose land Ordinance in the upcoming session. “These are Parliamentary dynamics. One has to face them. This government has the mandate. I am sure that the government will have its way and Opposition will have its say in the Budget session,” Naidu told PTI.
He was responding to a question on whether he foresaw a troubled buget session with the Opposition upping the ante against government on ordinances particularly the one on land. While Congress has resolved to oppose the ordinance on land in the Budget session, its youth wing held an agitation against it on Monday.
Janata Parivar offshoots Samajwadi Party, JD(U), RJD, JDS and others have decided to launch a joint agitation against the ordinances on land, coal and mines.
Asked whether the government has handed fresh ammunition to the Opposition by bringing an ordinance to change provisions in the Land Acquisition Act a few days after the Winter Session, the Union minister said, “These are empty bullets. This will boomerange on them.”
There was almost complete washout of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha in the Winter Session that concluded last month and indications have it that the Opposition is not in a mood to let the government go on in the Ordinance issue.
Rejecting the “Ordinance Raj” charge, he said that he can give a list of ordinances brought out during the UPA regime adding “they used to bring one ordinance each for breakfast, lunch and dinner a day.”
Maintaining that the government is ready to talk to all parties on every issue and will try to take their concerns on all issues on board, the Union Minister told the parties “Let us discuss, debate and decide and not just disrupt. We are ready to go the extra mile but they are not forthcoming.” Naidu made a strong defence of the government's decision to bring ordinances on issues like land reform, coal, mines and mineral, e-richkshaw and others.
“There is no ‘Ordinance Raj' at all. We are not by-passing Parliament. The Ordinances will have to come to Parliament after all. Is the ordinance against public interest, Constitution and law? We are not doing what they (Congress) did during the Emergency. And see, this party has the audacity to criticise us,” he said.
Asserting that the ordinances were brought in public interest, Naidu said that the BJP-led dispensation at the Centre has done nothing new.
“There is no charge. We will discharge it. Who said this is Ordinace Raj? Obstruction Raj cannot be a substitute to democracy. Our government has the mandate of people...We are trying to speed up development. Is it against the spirit of the Constitution? Instead of appreciating our efforts, the Opposition parties are attacking.
“They do not allow Parliament to function when the session is on and then accuse us of not passing legislation through Parliament. I do not understand what the criticism of the Opposition is,” the Minister said.
Accusing the Congress of “subverting democracy” and “putting people in jail” during Emergency, Naidu also reminded that the CPI had supported then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during Emergency.
“What moral stand Congress and Left have to question us? They are now giving us sermons on Parliamentary process. Do we have to take lessons on this from them? We are not bypassing Parliament like them,” he said.
Blaming the Opposition for the washout of the winter session especially in Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister said that while the government wanted to transact business and reached out to them, the opposition parties did not allow the government to function.
Naidu, however, declined to answer questions on whether the government proposes to call a joint session to ensure that its measure get the Parliamentary nod as it has more than majority in Lok Sabha, while it is in minority in Rajya Sabha.
The government has six weeks time from the day the Parliament meets next to get approval for the recently promulgated Ordinances, including that for easing of land acquisition norms and insurance law hiking foreign investment cap.
The President has also promulgated Ordinances relating to coal mine auction, e-rickshaws, and modification of arbitration laws and regularisation of colonies in Delhi, which are required to be approved by Parliament. As the BJP-led NDA does not have majority in Rajya Sabha, it is virtually at the mercy of opposition to get the crucial economic legislations through.
Asserting that the ordinances were brought in public interest, Naidu said that the BJP-led dispensation at the Centre has done nothing new.
“There is no charge. We will discharge it. Who said this is Ordinace Raj? Obstruction Raj cannot be a substitute to democracy. Our government has the mandate of people...We are trying to speed up development. Is it against the spirit of the Constitution? Instead of appreciating our efforts, the Opposition parties are attacking.
“They do not allow Parliament to function when the session is on and then accuse us of not passing legislation through Parliament. I do not understand what the criticism of the Opposition is,” the Minister said.
Accusing the Congress of “subverting democracy” and “putting people in jail” during Emergency, Naidu also reminded that the CPI had supported then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during Emergency.
“What moral stand Congress and Left have to question us? They are now giving us sermons on Parliamentary process. Do we have to take lessons on this from them? We are not bypassing Parliament like them,” he said.
Blaming the Opposition for the washout of the winter session especially in Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister said that while the government wanted to transact business and reached out to them, the opposition parties did not allow the government to function.
Naidu, however, declined to answer questions on whether the government proposes to call a joint session to ensure that its measure get the Parliamentary nod as it has more than majority in Lok Sabha, while it is in minority in Rajya Sabha.
The government has six weeks time from the day the Parliament meets next to get approval for the recently promulgated Ordinances, including that for easing of land acquisition norms and insurance law hiking foreign investment cap.
The President has also promulgated Ordinances relating to coal mine auction, e-rickshaws, and modification of arbitration laws and regularisation of colonies in Delhi, which are required to be approved by Parliament. As the BJP-led NDA does not have majority in Rajya Sabha, it is virtually at the mercy of opposition to get the crucial economic legislations through.
