NEW DELHI: Opposition unleashed a scathing attack on the government in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, with the principal opposition, the BJP accusing
it of being a disaster on all parameters. Participating in a debate on President's address to the joint session, BJP's Arun Jaitley accused the UPA government of compromising the nation's security, both internal and external, and of frittering away the gains of economy clocked under the NDA. Jaitley came down hard on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accusing him of failing to provide inspiring leadership when the country was in the grip of a serious crisis. The former union minister, who wished Singh, convalescing from a heart surgery, a speedy recovery, pulled few punches as he hammered home his argument that the PM could not lead because he was not the first choice for the top job. "The prime minister is merely a stop gap arrangement in a stop gap job. The PM of the world's largest democracy cannot be a night watchman," he said. On foreign policy, he accused the government of failing to read the situation in Pakistan as well as the hostile intent of the neighbour. Jaitley attacked the PM for describing Pakistan as a "victim of terror". "By the time they woke up to it, Taliban had moved within 100 km of Islamambad, five hours of driving from India," he said. CPM's Brinda Karat was equally trenchant in her attack on the government, calling it directionless. She said the President's address had glossed over serious issues like farmers' suicide and women's reservation bill. "This address has no direction because the government itself is completely directionless," she added. She focused on government's steps in the field of economy -- including the recent decision to allow FDI in all sectors through a Cabinet decision and the alleged scam in telecom licensing -- as she accused it of promoting the "worst form of crony capitalism". She attacked the nuclear deal with the US, and blamed price rise on the policies of the Centre. "Granaries are full, but people's kitchens are empty," she said. Karat also attacked BJP for copying the tactics of Taliban and for communalising the fight against terror, as she said that the people were looking forward to a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative. Jaitley's speech also appeared to outline BJP's campaign for coming polls, with the leader focusing his attack on the triad of issues of economic mismanagaement, internal security and on what he called foreign policy failures. The former minister said that UPA government delayed changing the anti-terror law for the sake of vote bank politics. "It conveninently forgot that terrorism is religion neutral. Some terror groups are inspired by religion but all terror groups attack the sovereignty and integrity of India. Everytime you surrender to vote bank politics, you strengthen Taliban," he said. Jaitley also spoke of the growing spread of left-wing extremism to back up his charge. CPI's D Raja said government should open political dialogue with naxals and undertake development programmes in the naxalite-infested areas. He asked the government to check "right-wing" extremism referring to the attack on women in a Mangalore pub. (TOI)
it of being a disaster on all parameters. Participating in a debate on President's address to the joint session, BJP's Arun Jaitley accused the UPA government of compromising the nation's security, both internal and external, and of frittering away the gains of economy clocked under the NDA. Jaitley came down hard on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accusing him of failing to provide inspiring leadership when the country was in the grip of a serious crisis. The former union minister, who wished Singh, convalescing from a heart surgery, a speedy recovery, pulled few punches as he hammered home his argument that the PM could not lead because he was not the first choice for the top job. "The prime minister is merely a stop gap arrangement in a stop gap job. The PM of the world's largest democracy cannot be a night watchman," he said. On foreign policy, he accused the government of failing to read the situation in Pakistan as well as the hostile intent of the neighbour. Jaitley attacked the PM for describing Pakistan as a "victim of terror". "By the time they woke up to it, Taliban had moved within 100 km of Islamambad, five hours of driving from India," he said. CPM's Brinda Karat was equally trenchant in her attack on the government, calling it directionless. She said the President's address had glossed over serious issues like farmers' suicide and women's reservation bill. "This address has no direction because the government itself is completely directionless," she added. She focused on government's steps in the field of economy -- including the recent decision to allow FDI in all sectors through a Cabinet decision and the alleged scam in telecom licensing -- as she accused it of promoting the "worst form of crony capitalism". She attacked the nuclear deal with the US, and blamed price rise on the policies of the Centre. "Granaries are full, but people's kitchens are empty," she said. Karat also attacked BJP for copying the tactics of Taliban and for communalising the fight against terror, as she said that the people were looking forward to a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative. Jaitley's speech also appeared to outline BJP's campaign for coming polls, with the leader focusing his attack on the triad of issues of economic mismanagaement, internal security and on what he called foreign policy failures. The former minister said that UPA government delayed changing the anti-terror law for the sake of vote bank politics. "It conveninently forgot that terrorism is religion neutral. Some terror groups are inspired by religion but all terror groups attack the sovereignty and integrity of India. Everytime you surrender to vote bank politics, you strengthen Taliban," he said. Jaitley also spoke of the growing spread of left-wing extremism to back up his charge. CPI's D Raja said government should open political dialogue with naxals and undertake development programmes in the naxalite-infested areas. He asked the government to check "right-wing" extremism referring to the attack on women in a Mangalore pub. (TOI)
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