Irked with Rajnath's charges, Congress stages walkout from LS

The Congress members staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to express their ire over Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement accusing the former UPA regime of destabilising several governments over the past while discussing the political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Rajnath earlier told the Lok Sabha that the BJP has nothing to do with the 'unfortunate' political crisis in Arunachal.

"The crisis in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh was unfortunate and disturbing healthy democracy is not the aim of this government. The crisis in those states arose due to the internal fight within the Congress Party. The BJP has nothing to do with this," Singh said.

Responding to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has a habit of destabilizing popular governments, Singh stated that the BJP has nothing to do with the sinking boat in which Congress is sailing, adding lack of unity in the grand old party led to the imposition of President's rule in the two states.

"Kharge ji has levelled serious allegations against the Government of India. In the history of independent India, if there is anyone who has an old habit of destabilizing popular governments, it is Congress. If you will put your boat which has a hole in it in water, it is likely to drown. You can't blame the water for it," Singh added.

On the second day of the Monsoon Session, the Congress-led Opposition gave an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha over the Arunachal Pradesh issue.

Kharge earlier in the day said the Congress has already given the notice, adding that they would now request Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to take the matter.

"Today we are concerned only with Arunachal Pradesh issue, we will talk about Kashmir later on," he added.