Kharge attacks Modi over absence from all-party meet on West Asia; Rijiju hits back

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed sharp exchanges between Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The Congress leader criticised the government over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from the all-party meeting on the West Asia conflict, and Rijiju accused the Opposition of playing politics on the issue.

Earlier, Chairman C P Radhakrishnan announced the start of the Question Hour, and Rijiju urged the House to sit till late in the evening to take up the government's legislative business.

Reacting to it, Kharge accused the government of forcing its agenda while "failing" to pay heed to the Opposition's concerns on West Asia crisis and hike in LPG and fuel prices.

Rijiju said, "What the Leader of Opposition is saying is not right. Firstly, the ministers concerned made their statements in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Then the prime minister made a detailed statement in Parliament."

The minister said that when an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis was convened, none of the leaders of the opposition from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha attended, even though Congress members and those of other opposition parties were present.

He pointed out that during the discussion on the finance bill, opposition members only spoke about LPG, petrol and diesel. Even the finance minister gave a detailed reply on this issue in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, he said.

"The war is not happening because of us. In such a crisis, the opposition is playing politics. It is so unfortunate. This is time for the entire country to stand united," Rijiju said.

Countering Rijiju, Kharge said, "Where was your prime minister? Where was he? You were there as the government representative; I had also sent our representative. Your prime minister was not there. Should we attend to listen to your lecture? What authority do you have?"

Hitting back, Rijiju said that they have always given respect to the Leader of Opposition.

"They only indulge in abusing the prime minister, both inside and outside the Parliament. We consider the leader of opposition as senior and think he would talk responsibly while upholding the dignity of the position he holds."

"He does not uphold the dignity of his position. He himself gives irresponsible statements. Their leader of opposition in Lok Sabha also is like that," the minister alleged.