New Delhi:
The BJP today attacked the government saying there was no coordination between union ministers and ruling party MPs during the just-concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament.
"The government appears to be losing direction...there is no collective governance. There is a gap between ministers and ruling party MPs," said Arun Jaitley, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
"The leadership of the government appears to be losing grip on governance. In this session, there was no coordination. One ministry stalled another ministry's work. Ministers worked to ensure their bill got passed, we didn't see the government coming together to get the work done," he added.
Jaitley was referring to HRD Minister Kapil Sibal deferring a key education reforms bill following strong opposition from members cutting across party lines, including from senior Congress leader K Keshava Rao.
Expressing satisfaction over his party's performance during the just-concluded Parliament session, Jaitley's counterpart in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said, BJP played the role of constructive Opposition by helping government pass important bills where its concerns were addressed.
"But for the government, it was a refer and defer session," she said.
Two bills, including the Prevention of Torture Bill, were referred to the respective Standing Committees, while the Education Tribunal Bill and the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill were deferred, she pointed out.
The BJP leaders scoffed at suggestions of a 'deal' between the main opposition and the Congress during the session.
"I strictly object to the use of the term deal. A deal has to be for the entire session and not a particular bill...it is a baseless allegation that it was a deal," Swaraj said referring to the crucial nuclear liability bill passed by Parliament.