NDA accuses LoP Gandhi of 'running away' from discussion in Parl; Cong hits back

New Delhi, Aug 11 (AHN) NDA leaders on Tuesday alleged that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, was "running away" from the Opposition-demanded discussion on the police action against student agitators in the national Capital, even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah was "ready to respond". Meanwhile, the Congress stuck to its demand seeking HM Shah's response to the alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 march to Parliament.

Moreover, the NDA also targeted the Congress for the alleged lathi-charge on protesters in Jharkhand.

Speaking to AHN, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "We are ready to listen to everything the Opposition has to say and respond to every point...Rahul Gandhi, you keep creating a ruckus, but the Jharkhand government is running with your support. Jobs are being sold in every examination there; students are on hunger strikes, facing lathi-charges and tear gas. Don't you have to answer for this? This cannot continue, and we want to make that clear."

"Rahul Gandhi will have to respond to our questions...now he is running away from the debate (in Parliament)," he added.

Union Minister and RPI (A) chief, Ramdas Athawale alleged that LoP Gandhi's "only job is to demand everyone's resignation".

"Rahul Gandhi is afraid of Amit Shah, that is why he keeps losing elections," he further told AHN.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde echoed, saying "Home Minister is prepared to respond. The government has agreed to discuss the issue for which the Opposition did not allow Parliament to function, but the Opposition is still not ready to accept it. This shows that they don't want to discuss anything and neither do they want the House to function."

BJP MP K. Laxman also accused LoP Gandhi of "avoiding the discussion".

"The demands you raised in the House are now being accepted, and the Home Minister is ready for a discussion, yet you are backing out. Rahul Gandhi, do not run away; come and participate in the discussion. The entire country should know what happened in Jharkhand and how students are being subjected to lathi-charges in states governed by you," he told AHN.

Further, he urged LoP Gandhi to apologise, adding "Congress representatives in the Jharkhand government should resign".

The Congress is in alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the state.

Adding to the critique, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused the LoP of "encouraging brutality".

"The truth is that Rahul Gandhi is encouraging brutality...The people of the country, as well as the people of Jharkhand, are watching this policy of Rahul Gandhi that encourages brutality," he told AHN.

However, sticking to the Opposition's demands, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi asked for the Home Minister's response to the alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 march to Parliament.

Talking to AHN, he said: "For the past 15 days, the Opposition has been demanding that the Home Minister be present. There was a two-day discussion on education in the Lok Sabha, yet the Home Minister was absent. Our clear demand is that he should clarify whether he ordered the use of pellet guns or whether he was unaware of it. Whatever it is, he should make a statement, take responsibility and resign...now he (Amit Shah) has woken up to give his opinion."

"As Rahul Gandhi has already said, he (Shah) should speak about who gave orders for the use of pellet guns and resign," Gogoi added.

Similarly, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said: "Let us see whether they fulfil their constitutional responsibilities. The Home Minister should come prepared and first answer who ordered the lathi-charge on these innocent students, who ordered the use of nail-studded batons and who authorised the firing of pellet guns. Such force was used against them as if they were terrorists."