New Delhi [India], July 19 : Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala on Sunday criticised the BJP-led government, accusing it of failing to accommodate the opposition's voice and running the House solely to suit its own interests.
Responding to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's appeal for cooperation, Chamala asserted that while top BJP leaders project a cooperative stance in front of the media, the ground reality inside the House is entirely different.
"I want to tell Kiren Rijiju that we want the House to be functional in a constructive manner, through a democratic process. The BJP, especially in front of the media--whether it is the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, or the Parliamentary Affairs Minister--talks very fairly," Chamala told ANI.
The Congress lawmaker alleged that the ruling party abandons democratic dialogue once the parliamentary session begins.
"However, during the sessions, they simply want to implement their own interests and run the House; they do not want to listen to the opposition parties," Chamala added.
The remarks come on the heels of a crucial all-party meeting convened by the government in the national capital to ensure the smooth functioning of both Houses.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to commence tomorrow, with the opposition gearing up to corner the government on a range of legislative issues.
Earlier today, the Centre held an all-party meeting, a day ahead of the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, to seek cooperation from political parties for the smooth functioning of both Houses and to discuss the government's legislative agenda.
Opposition parties staged a symbolic walkout from the all-party meeting convened by the Centre, protesting Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's invitation to the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI) to participate in the meeting. They later returned to take part in the discussions after a few minutes.
The Lok Sabha Speaker has allowed separate seating for the 20 rebel TMC MPs who announced a merger with the NCPI.