File Photo: Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
With Congress insisting that the resignation of Union minister Sushma Swaraj be part of tomorrow's all-party meet to end logjam in Parliament, the BJP today hit back saying the opposition party has pushed itself "against the wall" by its demand and the honourable exit for it would be have a debate in the House on the Lalit Modi issue.
The ruling party also sought to drive a wedge in the opposition unity by claiming that while Congress is disrupting Parliamentary proceedings, other opposition parties are looking forward to a debate on important issues on the floor of the House.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, claimed that Congress has put itself in an "untenable position" and has "pushed itself against the wall" by demanding resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje over Lalit Modi controversy, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan over Vyapam scam.
She said the "honourable exit" for the Congress would be to have a debate on the issue in Parliament.
Dubbing Congress as "confused", Ms Sitharaman said earlier Congress demanded a debate on the Lalit Modi issue. But when the government agreed to immediately "and to the shock of Congress", they demanded that the resignations should come first and only then would they participate in a debate.
She said Parliament rules do not permit debate on state issues like Vyapam. "But there are other members, who want a debate on Kerala solar scam or the (Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister) Virbhadra Singh corruption issue...the rules can be changed," she said.