Parliament disruption

'Without power, Congress is like fish without water'

congress-flag-rally (File) Representational image

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday claimed that the Congress, out of power, was "gasping like a fish out of water".

He, along with Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot, was in Indore to participate in the day-long fast called by the BJP to protest against the washout of the Budget session of the Parliament.

"The way fish gasp for air when out of water, the Congress is in a similar position now that it is out of power," he said.

Accusing the Congress of disrupting Parliament, he said that the government was ready to talk on issues and termed the Congress' act as an effort to "weaken democracy".

"We are ready to talk on issues but the Congress, having been defeated continuously, is creating a scene in Parliament and wasting people's money," Athawale said.

Gehlot alleged that the disruption was done at the behest of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and opposition parties had extended support.

Gehlot said the opposition did not allow discussions on several bills and proposals that were brought in the interest of the people of the country.

BJP leaders sat on a fast across the state and hit out at the Congress for the logjam in Parliament.

Observing the fast at Board Office Square in the state capital, Bhopal MP Alok Sanjar told PTI, "Parliament witnessed an unpleasant incident for the first time in its history when the opposition shouted slogans during the prime minister's speech. The Congress is responsible for disrupting 23 days of the Session in Parliament."

BJP's national vice president and Rajya Sabha MP, Prabhat Jha, who was at Guna, called the Congress' act as "injustice to people".

Another RS MP, Satyanarayan Jatia, observed the day-long fast at Ratlam.

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