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Relations between the Opposition and government turned prickly on Wednesday after a brief period of bonhomie since the start of the winter session of Parliament on November 26.
There was little progress on negotiations between the government and the Congress on the goods and services tax (GST) Constitution amendment Bill. But, ministers were hopeful that the Congress would bend to “public opinion” to support the Bill.
A senior minister said the government has apprised the Congress of the limitations in accepting all of its three amendments to the Bill and was awaiting Congress’ response.
The Congress indicated it was in “no hurry” on the issue. The party would take a decision only after its president Sonia Gandhi returns from abroad. It insisted there be discussions on price rise and intolerance in the Rajya Sabha.
The day started on a sour note in the Lok Sabha when Congress members rushed to the well demanding an apology from Union minister V K Singh for his earlier remarks. The opposition said he had insulted Dalits with his dog analogy.
The protest continued throughout question hour. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu pleaded that the House take up for discussion the situation in many parts of India, particularly Chennai, because of floods.
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress members took affront to the “insult” to its Member of Parliament (MP) Kumari Selja by the treasury benches.
On Wednesday, Selja, a Dalit, had claimed that she had faced discrimination at a temple in Dwarka, Gujarat. This was in 2013 when Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state. Leader of the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley refuted her claims. He read out from a copy of the comments she wrote in the visitors’ book of the main Dwarka temple, which suggested that she was pleased with her visit. Selja corrected Jaitley to claim that she was referring to another one near it.
Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi, demanded an unconditional apology, as several other opposition parties supported the Congress on the issue. After a meeting of leaders of all parties, a temporary truce was called to discuss the Chennai floods. The Congress said it would not allow the Rajya Sabha to discuss any other issue.
