JOIN USTerming the IT notice as a blow to country’s federal structure, BJP members supported by JD (U) and BJP paralysed the proceedings by demanding that notice should be withdrawn and Prime Minister or Finance Minister should be make a statement in the house.
When the government did not agree to the principal opposition party’s demand, the BJP members did not allow the house to function. The House saw repeated adjournment, the last one for the day. Virtually, no business was transacted in the House during the day.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Opposition Leader Arun Jaitley took strong objection to IT department order of February 17 which sought details of MoUs signed between the state and private entrepreneurs who attended the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January.
“Do you have animus against the people of Gujarat? Do you treat it as an enemy territory? Do you treat the Chief Minister Narendra Modi as an enemy ?,” Jaitley asked.
Observing that an unprecedented Rs 20.53 lakh crore has been promised in the Summit, he said the state government has institutionalised a system of attracting investment through the annual meet.
“Instead of feeling proud, ... you (Centre) let loose the IT department against those who want to invest in the state,” the BJP leader said. Jaitley claimed that every opposition ruled state has been complaining of discrimination of this kind. He referred to how Orissa, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were being “discriminated”.
In the morning, the House witnessed heated exchanges between Congress and BJP members.
When Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal wanted to respond, BJP members again created a ruckus. “They are not letting me speak,” he complained to the Chair.