PM's reply in LoK Sabha 'election propaganda': Yechury

The CPI(M) today attacked Prime Minister for "hijacking" sanctity of debate on motion of thanks to President into "election propaganda" ahead of UP polls and accused the Centre of jettisoning Parliamentary norms to ensure benefits for BJP.
The Left party accused the Prime Minister of shying away from answering issues raised by Parliamentarians including that of demonetisation and instead engaging in "rhetoric and sloganeering" and also charged him with "lowering" level of debates in Parliament by making certain remark.
Speaking to reporters, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the Left party will insist the Prime Minister to face questions when Narendra Modi replies to the motion in the Upper House tomorrow.

"We have taken serious objection to the fact that the sanctity of debate on the motion of thanks to the President is being hijacked into election propaganda by the Prime Minister.
"Now this is something that is very serious thing, which has not happened in the Parliament earlier. I think the Parliamentary norms are being jettisoned for the sake of their political benefits," Yechury alleged.
The Marxist leader, accompanied by the Left party's Lok Sabha MP Mohammed Salim, accused the government of scheduling the Prime Minister's reply in the Rajya Sabha, when many of the opposition members are likely to be in Uttar Pradesh for campaigning.

The ruling party does not enjoy majority in Rajya Sabha.

Stating that the Prime Minister's reply in Rajya Sabha may eat into "important" time of Zero Hour, when issues of public importance are raised, Yechury also suggested Modi to address the Upper House towards the end of discussions.
"And we only want to remind the BJP and the PM that the last two years on the debate of motion of thanks to the President in Rajya Sabha, there were amendments moved and carried, on both occasions the ruling party lost vote," he warned, adding the CPI(M) will mobilise its full strength in Rajya Sabha tomorrow.

Salim, noted it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister did not allegedly touch upon the issues raised by opposition members in Lok Sabha.
On the advancing of budget and the government's claims that it will help Ministrys plan their spending from day one of the fiscal, Yechury alleged it is the argument to cover up for some other political motive the government has.
When asked about what is the motive, he alleged, "That motive is to slowly inch India back into a January-December financial year to keep it in conformity and needs of international finance capital.
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When asked by a reporter about Modi trying to suggest that previous governments refused to act on corruption as the Prime Minister lauded demonetisation in the Lower House, Yechury taunted saying "whatever the government does is because the earlier governments did nothing for 70 years."

"It is a common refrain, a Brahminical mindset, that your problems in this janma (birth) are because of the sins you committed in last janma. That is the Brahminical mindset. To uphold the dharma, the Prime Minister has arrived and that has reflected," he said.
Comparing the demonetisation move of erstwhile Morarji Desai government with that of the Modi dispensation, Yechury said the NDA government has banned currency in circulation (Rs 500 and Rs 1000) putting common people in trouble.
But Desai government had withdrawn Rs 1000 notes, which he added, were used for "hoarding" in those times.
The Rajya Sabha member also reiterated that the government has not come out with list of those hoarding money in tax havens when Modi talks about fighting black money.

Yechury further charged the government with trying to bulldoze discussions on the budget, which he said, will not be allowed.
"And a proper time for discussion on the budget is required and it is unlikely to happen in this part of the session," he rued.
Referring to certain remarks made by Modi, apparently in connection with a comment made by Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday, Mohammed Salim said the ruling party allegedly makes such references whenever it finds itself in a defensive position.
"It is unfortunate...It is lowering the level of quality of debate," Salim said and also questioned the absence of the mover of the motion (Minister Mahesh Sharma) in the House when the Prime Minister gave reply.