New Delhi:
Both Houses of Parliament today began discussing the roadmap of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new government which was outlined in President Pranab Mukherjee's speech yesterday to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Initiating the discussion on the President's speech, senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy seemed keener to talk about Mr Modi's leadership rather the government's plans. "Gujarat gave us Shanti Purush, Lauh Purush and now Vikas Purush," he said.
Trinamool Congress members Sultan Ahmed and Kalyan Banerjee, and, Congress' Deepinder Singh Hooda and Adhir Ranjan Choudhury strongly objected to the remarks and asked that Mr Rudy concentrate on the subject of the President's speech.
Noisy scenes were also witnessed when Mr Rudy, without naming anyone, said the country's democracy has been "growing" in such a manner that even if someone goes to jail, his spouse occupies his place as chief minister.
He also highlighted the decimation of the Congress in the national election - the party was saddled with its worst defeat ever. "The Congress has just 44 seats, it has been reduced to a regional party. It is not entitled to the post of Leader of the Opposition," Mr Rudy said.
The newly appointed Congress leader in Lok Sabha surprised everyone with his aggressive counter. Responding to BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy's jibe, Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We may be 44 in Lok Sabha, but the Pandavas will never be intimidated by a hundred Kauravas."
But NDA allies rallied behind Mr Rudy and continued to focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "We have got votes in Modiji's name. Don't know if others didn't get in Soniaji's name," said Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister and leader of the Lok Janshakti Party said.
On substantive issues, the government made it clear that growth with job creation was their priority. Intervening during debate in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "We have major challenges...reviving the national economy. Manufacturing growth gone into negative...Where are jobs?" He added this was the last opportunity to make India a low-cost manufacturing hub.