PM, Sonia not on same page: BJP

Differences in UPA blocking development, says Arun Jaitley

Initiating the debate on Appropriation Bill, he said lack of consensus within the UPA has blocked key economic issues.

The BJP leader asked the government to evolve consensus within the UPA before seeking support from the opposition. He also wanted the Prime Minister to “act with authority”.
“Unlike UPA I, where the twin leadership was on the same page, in UPA II they appear to be on different pages, even ideologically,” Jaitley said.

He said even on issues like FDI in retail, there was not a single statement from Sonia Gandhi and there was no consensus even within the UPA constituents.

“Before telling us, evolve consensus within the UPA,” he said. “The prime minister cannot be a CEO merely implementing decisions of a board... he must be vested with authority and confidence.”

Jaitley also wanted the government to act like a big brother. He asked the government to become “big hearted.”

“If you need a political consensus, the government has to be big-hearted. You cannot continue to act like the big brother,” he said. He  also accused the government discriminating states ruled by non-Congress parties.