DHAKA: In uncharacteristically forceful remarks, the Prime Minster today combatted the Opposition’s allegations that he has led the economy into Code Red mode, and attacked the BJP for repeatedly disrupting Parliament, holding up important legislation and hurting investor sentiment.

“Have you heard of any country where MPs shout and walk to the well of the House and say ‘Prime Minister ** hai (the PM is a crook)’,” he asked in the Rajya Sabha after his speech on the economic crisis was derided by Arun Jaitley, the Leader of the Opposition. The remark was later expunged from the records.

“Whatever some members of the house may say about me as the prime minister, I command a certain status, certain prestige and a certain respect in the Group of 20,” the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, Mr Jaitley had criticised the PM’s explanation of the economic crisis and the depreciating rupee, stating that Dr Singh’s track record as prime minister was of populist policies, not reform.

“If you continue to follow the course, then the legacy that you leave behind will not be the legacy that you left behind as the finance minister. That legacy was different,” Mr Jaitley said.

The PM also aggressively dismissed demands by the opposition for him to explain why and how important documents related to the allocation of coal fields - currently under investigation - have gone missing. “I am not the custodian of files,” he said.

He went on to invoke a controversy in 2004 by asking, “Have you heard of any parliamentary democracy where the Opposition does not allow the PM to introduce his ministers?”

Mr Jaitley responded sharply, “Have you heard of any democracy where PM won a vote of confidence by buying members of parliament?”

The reference was to the confidence vote that Dr Singh  won in 2008 after the Left exited his coalition over a nuclear deal with the US.  

Source: ndtv
BDST: 1952 HRS, AUG 30, 2013
SR/RIS