This Article is From Apr 30, 2013

Sushma Swaraj slams Sonia Gandhi, says sad Speaker interrupted me: Highlights

New Delhi: Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, addressing a press conference today slammed both Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Speaker Meira Kumar.

Following are the highlights of her press conference:

  • Parliamentary Affairs Minister called yesterday wanting a meeting on end the deadlock in Parliament to pass the Finance Bill. I told him there should be an all-party meeting called by the Speaker...there was an all-party meeting held in the Speaker's cabin at around 11:15 am yesterday.
  • May 6 was decided for the next bill... But constitution says that it lapses in 65 days. Government accepted the lapse
  • I told Speaker that we aren't an irresponsible. We can't become bhagidaar... So will walk out
  • Disappointed that the Speaker didn't tell the Congress MPs to sit or allow me to speak
  • My allegation is that the UPA chairperson and Cong president doesn't accept democratic institutions and principles
  • They don't allow opposition leader to speak
  • If the Speaker calls a meeting again, we will not attend
  • We are the opposition... They say they will allow discussion
  • They don't let us speak how will they allow discussion?
  • Law says once there is discussion, it won't be discussed again
  • Irrespective of what's decided in all-party meets, what Sonia Gandhi wants happens in the House
  • What is the use of all-party meetings if what is decided in them is not reflected in the Parliament?
  • It is a situation of total breakdown but it is the responsibility of the government, not me
  • The ball is in the court of the Government and Speaker
  • My speech had just begun in Lok Sabha today and Congress members started interrupting me
  • We wanted discussion in Parliament
  • We wanted to raise the topics of China incursion, rapes in the capital...
  • The countdown for this government has begun
  • There is no question of sahayog. We will not bring any Avishwas prastav
  • We are not moving a no-confidence motion
  • We don't have any plan to go to the streets to protest

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