BJD attacks Congress over disruptions

NEW DELHI: In what could be music to the ears of ruling NDA, opposition BJD today attacked Congress in Parliament over disruptions, saying "manifestation of fascism" was being witnessed inside the House.

BJD members voiced displeasure both in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over disruptions, becoming the second opposition party after Samajwadi Party to target Congress for stalling Parliament.

In Lok Sabha BJD leader Bhratruhari Mahtab made a veiled attack on Congress over continued disruptions, saying "last century had seen a streak of fascism....Now what is being seen is manifestation of fascism inside the House".

While disapproving of the Congress tactics that have seen Parliament proceedings being drowned in slogan-shouting in the current session, Mahtab also lauded the patience shown by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in dealing with the situation.

"Let Lord Mahakaleshwar give her the strength to face the challenge," he said. Mahtab did not mention the name of Congress, but his target was obvious.

At the outset, he said he knew that the Monsoon session was starting in bad weather but had not realised that it would be of such magnitude that it would engulf the entire session.

In Rajya Sabha, BJD member Anubhav Mohanty objected to the disruptions strongly saying these had prevented him from raising of issues concerning people of his home state Odisha.

"My rights as a politician are being ignored," he said.

Mohanty, who has been in the House for only one year, said, "we have so many issues to be debated and discussed... I want to raise so many issues but I am unable to."

He said he came to Parliament prepared to raise issues concerning people of his state of Odisha, but has been unable to do so.

As Congress members continued the uproar, he shouted, "I have a right to speak."

BJD member in Lok Sabha Pinaki Mishra also also targeted the erstwhile UPA government, joining Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. He said the Environment Ministry under UPA had become a "road block" ministry as he referred to a letter by then minister Jayanthi Natarajan alleging interference by the office of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Mishra, while raising the issue of depleting forest cover in the country during Question Hour in Lok Sabha, alleged that during the stint of the previous Environment Minister, "touts" in the ministry used to seek bribes for clearing projects.

He alleged that due to this, foreign direct investments worth crores of rupees were stopped while pointing to the proposed project by Korean major Posco.

He also praised Javadekar, saying the new minister has brought "fresh air" in the ministry.