Cong adopting 'spit and run' tactic: Naidu

Blaming the opposition for disruptions in Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today that the Congress was adopting "spit and run" tactic to divert attention from the real issues.
"Everybody is sad. The way Parliament is not being allowed to function, every countrymen is sad. We are also sad. But what to do if some people deliberately and continuously not allowing Parliament to function. It is a known fact who is rushing to the Well of the House," Naidu told reporters outside Parliament.
He was asked to comment on BJP veteran L K Advani's comment in the Lok Sabha, "I feel like resigning", after a virtual washout of the winter session of Parliament over the demonetisation issue.

"Being a senior party man, Advaniji is also feeling like that," Naidu said.
On the AgustaWestland chopper scam, the Union minister said, "It is a serious issue and should be discussed in the House. Many MPs have given notices in both Houses for discussion on the issue because it is related to the nation's security. But Congress is not ready. They are bringing new issues to divert the attention from this."
On Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's claim about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged corrupt practices, Naidu said, "If your allegations have substance, then discuss it in the House. It is a spit and run tactics. One day PM's name, next day Kiren Rijiju."

The opposition targeted Union Minister of State for Home Affairs for his alleged involvement in a Rs 450 crore scam in a power project in Arunachal Pradesh.

Accusing the opposition of indulging in "dirty political tactics", he said, "Before this, they have made allegations against Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Now Prime Minister. These are all dirty political tactics. There is no substances in it."
"From the day one, we are saying let's have debate. We also said PM will be present and intervene in the discussion and FM will offer solutions. Debate started in the Rajya Sabha. Three Congress MPs spoke, Left also participated. JD(U) also participated," he said.

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Naidu said Parliament should discuss the AgustaWestland chopper scam as many names have cropped up in the "diary", reports of which have come out in a section of the media.
"I would like Parliament to discuss about the serious diary bomb which has been published in newspapers today. It's a very serious issue because it is a matter which was placed before the Italian court and then names of certain people have also been given in alphabets of course.
"The report says six million euros (have been paid) to Air Force officers, 8.4 million to bureaucrats and 16 million to politicians. We must try to reach the bottom of the truth and as the House is in session, we must discuss this in the House because this is the biggest scam in the recent years that too pertaining defence deals happened during the UPA regime," Naidu said.

He also accused the erstwhile UPA government of "successfully preventing" the truth from coming out.
"Now that there is a change of government, the inquiry has to be expedited and then nation also has to be told who is behind all these," he said.
On Rahul Gandhi's claim of possessing proof against PM, Naidu said it is quite surprising for the people, who have been in the "cesspool of corruption" over the years and "involved in many scams and scandals", dare to accuse the government without any basis.
"Absurd allegations...And if they have any information they are free to make it public and then the government will respond. This hit and run tactic will not help. They have done it earlier also," Naidu said.

Seeking to defend Union minister Kiren Rijiju, he said, "Kiren Rijiju is in no way involved anywhere in this. His only sin according to the Congress is that some local people who have supplied some material or worked with sub-contractors asked for their payments which was long due. So Kiren Rijiju forwarded that. They make it a scam and then run away.
"My advice to them is, first face this Agusta heat, respond to these allegations and then discuss other issues also. The government has no problem," he said.
Accusing the Congress of not allowing Parliament to function for the past 16-17 days, Naidu said, "On the last day, they come and (say) they have something to reveal. Who stopped you from revealing all these (earlier)? What happened to you all these days? Why were you not allowing Parliament to function? Why were you not allowing Parliament to discuss an important issue like remonetisation? Its effects, side-effects, after-effects.

"They have done great injustice to the people of this country by blocking Parliament... You (the Congress) have run away from the debate. You prevented both the Houses from functioning and discussing important issues. You have no moral right to criticise others.