Government today took strong exception to "black day" comment by Congress President Sonia Gandhi over suspension of 25 Lok Sabha MPs, saying it showed that the opposition was in no mood to let normal functioning of Parliament where key reform bills are pending.
"If yesterday was the black day for democracy, then was it a golden day when 16 members of Lok Sabha were suspended during UPA's tenure? Did imposition of Emergency mark golden day for democracy," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.
Taking exception to the tone of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he said that generally, top leaders exercise restraint on such matters. "However, if the top leadership uses such derogatory language, then it means they are not in a mood to let Parliament function properly," the minister said.
He said BJP's top leadership never used such language despite all odds when it was in the opposition.
"We are trying our best to sort out the issue (of deadlock)... A number of important legislations are pending," Naqvi said.
Among the key legislations pending are GST Bill, Land Acquisition Bill and Real Estate Bill.
