Congress MPs walked out of Rajya Sabha as PM Modi was speaking after his remark on Dr Manmohan Singh
Highlights
- Congress should apologise for not respecting PM Modi, parliament: BJP
- Congress walked out after PM Modi took a dig at former PM on Wednesday
- Despite scams, Dr Manmohan Singh not tainted, that's a skill, said PM
The Congress should apologise, said union minister Venkaiah Naidu today, rejecting the main opposition party's demand for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "raincoat" remark in parliament about his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh.
"It is the Congress which should tender an unconditional apology for not respecting the PM and parliament," Mr Naidu said on Thursday morning.
Angry Congress lawmakers had protested noisily and then walked out in the middle of the Prime Minister's reply to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha when he said, "there is not a single black mark against him despite all the corruption. Only Doctor Saab knows how to bathe with a raincoat in the bathroom." He was referring to the corruption scandals that emerged during the previous Congress-led UPA government's term.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi called the comment "saddening and shameful" and his party has said it will not allow the Prime Minister to speak in parliament till he apologises.
"When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor, years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament and the nation...He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Dr Singh who was present in the house and walked out with other members, said he did not wish to respond to the PM.
The Prime Minister was defending the notes ban, outlining his government's commitment to fighting corruption and black money, when he referred to Dr Singh. He recalled Dr Singh's criticism of the demonetisation drive as "organised loot and legalised plunder," and said, "If you use words like loot and plunder, you should know we can pay back in the same coin."
PM Modi had banned 500 and 1,000-rupee notes on November 8, 2016, in a move aimed at combating tax evasion. The opposition of rival parties to the move, he said on Wednesday, had exposed a "horizontal divide between politicians and the people." The government and the people were together in their support for the war on corruption, he said.
The Budget session started last week and parliament will break for a recess on Friday. It will reconvene on March 9 and will continue till April 12.