Can consider meaningful suggestion to end Parliament deadlock: Venkaiah Naidu

Says Congress, while in power, pushed India backward, now in opposition they do not want India to move forward

Government is open to consider "meaningful suggestion" from the Congress to resolve the deadlock in Parliament and get eight crucial bills passed in the ongoing monsoon session, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Lashing out at the Congress for disrupting Parliamentary proceedings, he said "I have told them that please come to the House. Let there be a discussion. Even the suspension on Congress MPs can be revoked. But there was no response. Even now if there is a meaningful suggestion, the Government is willing to consider the suggestion."

Naidu told reporters here that "eight more important bills are there, four bills were already passed in the Lok Sabha. I hope Congress understands its responsibility. Let us see what is going to happen (tomorrow). I want Monday to be Monday and I don't want Monday to be a Sunday."

Observing that it was the duty of both the government and the Opposition to run Parliament, he said "they don't want the Government to succeed. We want both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to function at least for coming four days, since (only) four days are left (for the monsoon session to end)."

The session concludes on August 13.

The legislations listed for passage include those relating to GST, the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill. The crucial Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Re-settlement (Second) Bill is currently before the Standing Committee.

Yesterday, Congress threw the ball in government's court on the issue of smooth functioning of Parliament in this session that has largely remained paralysed over Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues, saying if it was interested in its running, then it should reach out to the opposition.

On the Lalit Modi issue, Naidu wanted to know why he was allowed to go out of India in the first place. "Who was in Government? Why no action was taken against Lalit Modi? Who was in the Government for last four years? No answer."

Lashing out at Congress, he said "while in power, they pushed India backward, now in opposition they do not want India to move forward."

Continued protests by Congress members have forced a washout of Rajya Sabha proceedings for the third week, as the House failed to transact any business due to repeated adjournments.

Congress members have repeatedly stormed the Well protesting the suspension of 25 MPs in Lok Sabha and demanding resignation of Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and two chief ministers over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues.