Opposition Strike during Budget Undemocratic: Sonia
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has likened the Opposition strike during the tabling of budget last week as against ‘democratic norms and traditions’, said media reports.
Addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, she was quoted as saying: “The manner in which the opposition sought to disrupt the presentation of the budget speech is not in keeping with the democratic norms and traditions that we cherish. The disruptive approach of the opposition was evident to the entire nation.”
Besides, she said that Congress extended constructive cooperation to the National Democratic Alliance when congress was in rule, said report.
She said that government has commitment to deal with left-wing extremism from ‘developmental and law and order perspectives in partnership with the affected states’, report said.
Gandhi said that finance minister Pranab Mukherjee gave sufficient funds to establish plans to fight these issues.
Expressing concerns over Pune and Kabul attacks, she said that government would be ‘firm, uncompromising and undiminished’ in fighting against this forces, said report.
The Congress president said that the nine months of UPA’s second term had been very difficult, said report.
“We have faced many political and economic challenges. While some like the drought and global crisis have tested us, we have come through and remain firm to our dedication and resolve,” she was quoted as saying.
Correcting the MPs for their poor attendance in parliament, she was quoted as saying: “Regular attendance (in parliament) is part of our basic duty and responsibility. Even to sit and listen to parliamentary proceedings is an education in itself. The time has come to take poor attendance on the part of members seriously.”
She also said that the MPs would be briefed on significant programmes and schemes for improving the coordination between government and party, said report.
Complimenting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his ‘very successful’ visit to Saudi Arabia, Gandhi was quoted as saying: “The warmth of his welcome and the positive outcome only add to our country’s prestige.”
