Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sharp criticism of the previous governments, especially the UPA, during his recent foreign visit today rocked Rajya Sabha which witnessed repeated adjournments but Finance Minister Arun Jaitley put up a strong defence saying "there is no gag order" on the PM abroad.
Members from Opposition and treasury benches had heated exchange of words on Modi's remarks made in Canada that he wanted to "clean the dirt" of 60 years, forcing three adjournments in the pre-lunch session.
Rejecting the Opposition charge that Modi was "lowering the dignity" of the country by making such remarks abroad, Jaitley, who is also Leader of the House, said the Prime Minister was "perfectly entitled" to say that his government will break away from what happened in last 60 years and give a clean government.
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"There is no gag order on the Prime Minister," Jaitley said on the Prime Minister speaking about opposition on foreign soil.
He also took potshots at both Janata Dal (United) and CPI(M) wondering whether they thought that India is not defamed by "acts of corruption" but by referring to them.
Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma raised the issue through a notice for suspension of business under Rule 267 to discuss Modi's remarks in Germany and Canada alleging that the Prime Minister had lowered the prestige and dignity of the country, a contention which was supported by members from other Opposition parties including Sharad Yadav of JD-U.
Referring to Modi's reported statement in Germany that India used to go with a begging bowl for a permanent seat on UN Security Council and will not do so now on, the Congress leader said India had never begged before anyone.
His statement was angrily countered by Minister of State Naqvi who said such sweeping statements will not be allowed and Sharma should state where such remarks were made.
But Sharma went on to say that Modi had in Toronto stated that "earlier it was 'scam India' and now it is 'skill India'. "India cannot be a scam. Country cannot be a scam. There can be mistakes made but the country cannot be termed scam," he said, adding Modi had stated that he wants to clean the "gandagi" (dirt) of 60 years.
