Why are PM, NDA Govt. 'redefining rules of accountability', asks Congress

The Congress Party on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government is setting up different parameters of accountability after coming to power, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence makes him complicit.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said the Parliament is not functioning because of the arrogance of Prime Minister Modi and his government.

He accused the ruling dispensation of redefining the rules of accountability and values as against what they used to press for when they were in the opposition.

"This is unacceptable- their established precedents and benchmarks. The Prime Minister stands exposed for the hollowness of his earlier claims and commitment that he will not tolerate these things. His silence makes him complicit," Sharma told ANI here.

"If the Prime Minister genuinely wants the Parliament to function, he should take action, come to the House tomorrow and inform the House what action he has taken," he added.

Sharma further said that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's claim that the opposition had only been demanding for 'discussion' on 'state issues' like the Vyapam scam in the Monsoon Session of Parliament is 'laughable'.

"We had made it very clear in our notice for today that we want the Prime Minister to respond to the demand of fixing accountability of the Union Minister, that is, External Affairs for clandestinely facilitating the issuance of the travel documents of an Indian National who is wanted by Law and Enforcement agencies.... Equally serious is the guilt of the Chief Minister of Rajasthan who has filed an affidavit before the British courts and authorities in support of the same person who is involved in the Lalit Modi controversy for his resident application in Britain..." he said.

"These are not small charges and Arun Jaitley is wrong in saying that these are state issues. I think this argument is devoid of any merit or logic. It is actually laughable. Similarly in case of Vyapam anybody knows that if engineering and medical exams are there, even the seats are allocated nationally and students from all states participate. So how come this is a local issue?" he asked.

With the opposition unbending on its demand for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Maharashtra Women and Child Affairs Minister Pankaja Munde, the Parliament was disrupted and adjourned for the second consecutive day today.