BJP stages walkout over FM's remarks

Haughty and arrogant reply from finance minister, says Advani

Even LK Advani, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, did not expect Finance Minister P Chidambaram's reply to the Budget debate to create a situation where the Opposition would have to stage a walkout. But that is precisely what happened.

As Chidambaram started speaking, the Opposition ignored his various jibes till a perceived slight to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

In his speech Chidambaram made provocative statements like "we have come to terms with the fact that we are in office, but you (the Opposition) have not reconciled to being in the Opposition. One can see it in the confusion in your ranks, the bytes you give to the media and your body language."

It was, however, Chidambaram's remarks that his government was "removing the dust" over the Rajiv Gandhi drinking water mission that things got out of hand.

"The Opposition members have asked me why I have named a technical mission on water after Rajiv Gandhi, I want to say that it is an old mission from which I am removing the dust," he said.

This sparked a furore with the Opposition members raising a protest. A heated exchange between Advani and treasury benches followed over what the BJP felt was a slight to late Jan Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhayay.

First, BJP deputy leader VK Malhotra objected to Chidambaram's remarks which was followed by Advani saying the finance minister had no right to take the name of Upadhyaya, whom he may not have met or interacted with.

They told the Speaker that by saying that he was removing dust from the government's water programmes he was insulting the memory of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya after whom a welfare programme has been launched.

At this the Congress and its allies started protesting saying there was no mention of Upadhyaya and that the BJP was being unnecessarily touchy.

"Why are they being touchy, there is no drinking water programme in Upadhyaya's name, there is a rehabilitation programme for the disabled in the social justice and empowerment ministry, they are being too touchy," said Chidambaram as the Opposition walked out of the House.

As members from both sides shouted at each other, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said he would remove if there was any derogatory reference to any leader of the country.

Advani, meanwhile, said the BJP had not expected such a "haughty and arrogant reply from the finance minister."

While the BJP proceeded to boycott the day's proceedings, it also convened a meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents tomorrow to discuss further action.

The rest of Chidambaram's speech was more conciliatory although he could not resist taking another jibe at the defense spending of the previous NDA regime.

Chidamabaram said the allocation of Rs 11,000 crore for defence capital expenditure was necessary as the provisions were largely to fulfill "contractual obligations" emanating from three defence deals signed by the previous government after the presentation of interim Budget.

He stressed he was not trying to find fault with the previous government but pointed out already Rs 4,396 crore had been spent in April without any provision for the purpose.

Chidambaram asked the Opposition to look at the debate that go on in the British House of Commons and said he was only making a "mild reference" to the dust being removed on the Rajiv Gandhi mission.