This Article is From Dec 17, 2014

Opposition Walks Out of Lok Sabha Over HRD Circular Issue

Opposition Walks Out of Lok Sabha Over HRD Circular Issue

Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Press Trust of India Photo)

New Delhi: Opposition parties in Lok Sabha walked out of the House today, expressing displeasure over the Government's response to circular on good governance by the Human Resource Development or HRD ministry.

Congress MP from Kerala KC Venugopal raised the issue during zero hour - when MPs are allowed to raise any topic - and charged that Education Minister Smriti Irani misled the House. The minister was present in the House when the MP made this remark.

"On the occasion of Holy Christmas Day, the government wants to celebrate good governance. The Minister told the House that no circular has been issued that they should run the school and it's an online competition. All Jawaharlal Nehru Navodaya Vidyalaya have been asked to submit photographs of the function," said Mr Venugopal.

As members from the Opposition benches shouted slogans, Ms Irani could be heard saying she didn't mislead.

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge demanded an apology from the minister and alleged that the Narendra Modi government's "haath was Sangh ke saath (Government's hand is with the Sangh Parivar)."

Coming to the rescue of Ms Irani, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu hit back.

"Put the record straight. What is Sangh Parivaar? Who is following parivaar politics the whole country knows. Family ke saath Congress ka vinaash (Congress' downfall with the family),"was Mr Naidu's repartee in an obvious reference to the prominence of the Gandhi-Nehru family in the Congress.

Upset with the strong response, Opposition members walked out of Lok Sabha. Later on, defending his stand, Mr Naidu told reporters, "What can I do if my former PM was born on a holy day like Christmas? We can't change his birth date. What's the Opposition problem if we celebrate good governance day and also visit a Church to wish our Christian friends."
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