Sadhvi remark row: BJP hits out at Congress for 'doublespeak'

He alleged that the opposition party was working under pressure from 'someone' outside

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today attacked the Congress for its 'ugly doublespeak' in Parliament over Sadhvi Niranjan Jyothi's remarks, alleging that the opposition party was working under pressure from 'someone' outside.

"The government rejects with contempt the ugly doublespeak and double-standards of Congress and its friends in Parliament. The Congress is unable to digest that it has been relegated to the Opposition benches. It desperately wants power. But it should understand the spirit of the (people's) mandate and let Parliament function," Naidu said.

He said the Congress was seeking to derive 'vicarious satisfaction' by blocking the functioning of Parliament.

Castigating the Congress for casting aspersions on Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, the Minister asserted that no external force worked on her.

"Comments on the Speaker are an assault on the Constitution and the parliamentary system. The Congress is insulting the institutions," he said.

Referring to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's claim that the government was stifling the Opposition's voice, Naidu pointed to the party's 'amazing and dramatic' protest in Parliament yesterday and said, "you are muzzling your own voice."

"Even in protest they are bringing down the standards," he said mocking at the way the 'silent' protest with black bands tied to the mouths was organized under Gandhi's leadership.

"We don't need 'pravachans' (preachings) from the Congress about how to conduct public discourse or maintain standards in public life. It was the Congress that degraded, devalued and demolished standards in public life. Even kids conduct themselves well," Naidu remarked.

The veteran BJP leader asked the Congress to introspect why it lost power and why it continued to lose strength.

"A desperate Congress is indulging in desperate acts. It should understand the spirit of the mandate, come back to Parliament and fulfil its responsibilities. There is a very good agenda. Come, let's discuss and work together for the welfare of people," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister appealed.