New Delhi, August 27: Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj today slammed Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi but lauded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for their positions on Lokpal in Parliament. Initiating debate in Lok Sabha on government s statement on issues related to Lokpal, she asked Speaker Meira Kumar if Gandhi s speech in the House yesterday was an address to the nation or a Zero Hour intervention. Was the speech an address to the nation or a Zero Hour intervention? I am asking you . Amid repeated interruptions, commotion and objections by ruling Congress benches, she said it was laughable when Gandhi said political parties need more internal democracy. Quoting from his speech in the House yesterday, she quipped; Hansi aati hain when Gandhi said; I believe we need more democracy within our political parties . The senior BJP leader slammed Gandhi for white-washing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh s statesmanship on Lokpal during his 5-page 15-minute speech she dubbed an address to the nation. But she lauded the Prime Minister for placing before the House all three issues raised by Team Anna through the statement made by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. We are happy Prime Minister retook control… I salute Prime Minister for placing three issues(raised by Team Anna) before the House in Finance Minister s statement . Saying she was not questioning the authority of the Speaker, Ms Swaraj asked how a member could be allowed to sermonise and permitted to read a five-page statement for 15 minutes when other members have to struggle hard to stretch three minutes allowed to make a mention during Zero Hour. She revealed the list of those who were to make interventions during Zero Hour did not have Gandhi s name but added Speaker has the discretion to permit any member to speak even without a notice and she was bound to accept the authority of the Chair.
—–Agencies