Congress returns fire, claims BJP is ‘full of Jai Chands’

NEW DELHI: Congress on Tuesday slammed BJP as full of “Jai Chands” whose forebears were apologists of the British and betrayed the Independence struggle, as it defended Rahul Gandhi by saying that holding the government to account does not amount to criticising the country. It said BJP is obstructing Parliament to divert people’s attention from the Adani scam.
“It is sad that those who apologised to the British, who remained loyal to London and who took pension from the British Viceroy are giving sermons on patriotism to us. Criticising the works of the government does not amount to criticising the country. The government is for the country and not vice-versa, and BJP should understand this, said AICC spokesman Pawan Khera said.
Congress asked why were the government and the Prime Minister running away from constituting a JPC to probe the Adani affair. “We urge you to think about the country and not your friend,” Khera added.
Meanwhile, in a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla last week, Rahul has asserted his right to respond in Parliament in view of “totally baseless and unfair charges” made against him by senior ministers. Invoking the rules of conduct of Parliament business and constitutional provisions, Rahul said, “Surely, you would agree that Parliament of all institutions cannot abdicate the responsibility” to respect the said rights “when it doesn’t suit the ruling regime”.
Citing Rule 357 of “the rules of procedure and conduct of business in Lok Sabha”, Rahul recalled the example of BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, who had in 2015 invoked the Rule to give an explanation regarding comments made about him by then Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia. He said BJP members have made “scurrilous and defamatory claims against me both within and outside Parliament.”
“Parliament like any other institution is bound by Rules of Natural Justice contained in Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution. They are a guarantee against administrative arbitrariness and ensure that every person has a right to be heard in a cause with which they are concerned,” he wrote. “I hope the above satisfies your query and that you will allow me a right to reply in Lok Sabha at the earliest,” Gandhi said.