All issues should be debated in Parliament: Pallam Raju

Lashing out at Opposition parties for repeatedly stalling Parliament on the coal block allocations, Union Minister M M Pallam Raju today said issues should be discussed and debated in the House lest people "lose faith in the temple of democracy."
"We are in a democracy and I think for all issues, whatever matters that the opposition may have apprehension on, there is a forum and it is called Parliament. I urge and request the Opposition to ensure that Parliament functions where it (the said issue) can be debated," he said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a medical university convocation here, Raju said the government had "clear conscience", and was trying its best to give good administration and governance.

"And if the opposition feels that there is some shortcoming that had happened in the past, I think we should ensure the Parliament functions where the issue can be debated... We owe it to the people of India that Parliament runs where healthy debates happen," he said.
People were getting "frustrated", over such repeated disruptions and are "losing faith in the concept of democracy", he said.
On the controversy surrounding the JPC on 2G spectrum allocation scam and its chairman PC Chacko, he said Opposition parties have an apprehension and make accusations that if the chairman is from ruling party, there would be a "tilt" towards that party.

"But if they do have such apprehensions, they have forums (like Parliament) but disruption of and not allowing it to function is not a solution. That is what the opposition should realise," he said.
On BJP's charge against CBI that it was being misused, Raju insisted that the issue should be raised in Parliament so that there could be scope for improvement but reiterated that stalling proceedings was not the solution.