PM, Jaitley exchange sharp words in Rajya Sabha

Singh blames the opposition for loss of investors confidence

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley exchanged sharp words in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, with Singh attacking the Opposition for disruptions.

 

The PM said that the principal opposition party is still not reconciled to the fact that they are out of power. He said the government has the ambition to put the economy back on track and put the growth rate at 5.5% for the current fiscal. 

 

"Have you heard of any country where MPs shout and walk to the well of the House and say 'Prime Minister chor hai (the PM is a crook)," he asked in the Rajya Sabha after his speech on the economic crisis was derided by Jaitley, the Leader of the Opposition.

 

"In which democracy is the Prime is not allowed to introduce his Council of Ministers? The conduct of the Parliament is a factor in investor confidence. Essential legislations should be passed," he said. 

 

However, Jaitley responded quickly, "Have you heard of any democracy where the PM buys votes in a trust vote?"

 

This was the first time the PM was visibly angry in Parliament. 

 

He said the opposition is wrong about investors losing confidence. "If you are worried about investor confidence, your conduct in Parliament is important," he added. 

 

The PM said the Indian economy was not back to the situation in 1991. Our fundamentals are much stronger, he said addressing questions raised by CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury earlier.