Describing the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre as a lame-duck and poised to collapse any time, senior BJP national leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday asked the Congress to set right its house, govern or step down honourably.
Speaking to media persons here, Venkaiah Naidu said that the Congress party and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh do not know how to run a coalition and have no ability to provide a stable government. He charged the Congress with failing to convince its allies as proved by the recent developments. He pointed out that one minister in Uttarkhand resigned and disappeared in thin air. Similarly, the Railway Minister’s resignation was demanded by one of its allies and nobody knows where he stands, he added.
Venkaiah observed that the Congress party lacks leadership, decisiveness, credibility and trust among its allies as it violates the basic coalition dharma. He pointed out that the ruling party members created disturbance in Parliament. “One day, it is the DMK which goes to the well, other day it is TMC, next day it is the turn of the RJD, SP and BSP alternatively. The ruling party members sit on a dharna near Gandhi statue outside Parliament House. How can this government run?”, he asked.
He said that the ruling party has lost confidence of the nation, Opposition and its allies and it has too many power centers. He said that while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the driving seat, AICC president Sonia Gandhi was controlling the steering and brakes were under the feet of the DMK and the TMC. As a result, the foundation of the UPA government was shaking, he said, adding that the Union government was enjoying stability of graveyard.
Venkaiah Naidu said that there was neither vision in the President’s speech nor a road map. It was one step forward and three steps backward making the situation awkward, he added. He further pointed out that petroleum prices were hiked in November last and later rolled back. Similarly, FDI in retail was announced in December and later taken back. Teesta Water Accord with Bangladesh was planned and discussed but signing was put off. Though Lokpal Bill was discussed and voted in Lok Sabha, the government ran way from the Rajya Sabha later, he added. He said that Solicitor General submits something in Supreme Court and within hours the Home Ministry completely differs with it. Similarly, National Counter Terrorism Centre was announced with much fanfare, initiated and later kept in abeyance. Cotton exports ban was announced on March 5 unilaterally and the same was lifted on March 12. All these indicate that the government would not last long and better it goes immediately, he demanded. (NSS)