Rahul Gandhi storms LS Well demanding debate on communal violence; BJP slams Congress move

NEW DELHI: A political war of words ensued in the Parliament on Wednesday after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi stormed the Well in Lok Sabha demanding a debate on communal tension. Rahul charged the Narendra Modi government with not allowing discussion in Parliament.

In a counter attack on Rahul, BJP accused the former of 'crossing all limits by questioning the speaker'. "We are pained at Congress behaviour in Parliament. The party has not been able to reconcile to its defeat in LS polls," said Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "Modi is neither communal or dictatorial." "We are not running away from a debate on communal violence," BJP said.


Rahul Gandhi had said, "There is a mood in Parliament that only one man's voice counts for anything in this country." "We are not being allowed to speak in Parliament. We are asking for discussion. There is a mentality in the government that discussion is not acceptable. Everybody feels it, their party feels it, we feel it, everybody feels it," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

"We are raising a point, we are asking for discussion... The Speaker, I mean...It is completely one-sided, partiality. That's what we are raising," Gandhi said.

Congress had earlier given notice of on adjournment motion in Lok Sabha over rising incidents of communal violence in the country.

The notice was given by Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP M I Shahnawaz and party whip K C Venugopal.

(With inputs from PTI)