'Stifling of opposition led to passing of amendment': Yechury

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said that the way opposition was stifled and denied chance to seek clarification on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply in the Rajya Sabha had led to the passing of the amendment in the Upper House.

"The stifling of the opposition, in not allowing even to ask clarification, to contest what was said in terms of the factual data that was presented by the Prime Minister, even that wasn't allowed. This is never done in the House. That confidence was not created by us or anybody, it was created by the Prime Minister and the ruling party themselves," said Yechury.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla recounted that the BJP had not allowed former prime minister Manmohan Singh to even reply on the debate in 2005-06.

"This is not for the first time, in earlier occasion also this has happened. In 2005-2006, I remember that the BJP had not allowed the then prime minister Manmohan Singh to even reply on the debate. They stalled the House for almost a week and finally that motion of thanks must still be lying at the desk in the Parliament," said Shukla.

The amendment was moved by the Left, saying the government's motion did not mention any action against corruption or black money.