Congress hits back, says Modi arrogant, obdurate

After being accused by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for causing a parliamentary logjam for two weeks, the Congress hit back on Sunday, saying the blame lies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi "for his arrogance and obduracy".

Congress leader Anand Sharma said union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are advised not to give "patronising" sermons to the Congress "but to colllectively reflect and apologise for their own conduct while in opposition".

"The unwarranted, uncharitable and provocative statement made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the BJP accusing the Congress of disruption makes it abundantly clear that the government is neither serious nor sincere in breaking the stalemate for parliament to function," Sharma said in a statement.

He said it was ironical that Jaitley was asking the Congress to reflect whereas as the government itself says that parliament has "conducted more business in the last one year compared to last 10 years (of Congres-led United Progressive Alliance government)."

"The credit for the parliament work belongs to the responsible and mature opposition whereas the blame for derailment in the previous 10 years lies with the BJP," Sharma said.

He said it was the responsibility of the Congress and the opposition parties to expose the "hypocricy, double-speak and double-standards on propriety, probity and accountability".

"The Congress is dutybound to ensure accountability for acts of commission, omission and abuse of office and gross impropriety," he added.

Earlier in the day, in a Facebook post, Jaitley held the Congress responsible for disrupting parliament, saying "its obstructionist tendencies inflict an economic injury on the country".

In a press conference, BJP leader and union minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the Congress of being "confused and afraid" while saying that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would have to take the blame if the ongoin Monsoon Session was washed out.

The parliament has witnessed a stalemate since its Monsoon Session commenced on July 22, following some Congress-led opposition parties demanding resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over their alleged help to former IPL chief Lalit Modi and of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam scam and over 40 deaths.

Lalit Modi is facing investigations from the Enforcement Directorate.