New Delhi: The Opposition and the Government
today took swipes at each other over absence of Ministers and
members in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Budget.
The Opposition sought to make an issue of absence of a
cabinet minister in the Lok Sabha during the debate on General
Budget 2010-11 alleging that it showed the Government`s casual
approach to Parliament.
As former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha raised the
issue, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj joined him in
pointing out the thin attendance in the treasury benches.
"A serious discussion on the Budget is on but there are
hardly any members in the treasury benches. This shows how
serious they are regarding the issue", Swaraj said amid
cries of "shame, shame" from the opposition side.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy
said Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal would be back
in the House within a few minutes.
Bansal was soon back in the House and another Cabinet
Minister Vayalar Ravi also rushed in.
Another BJP member also pointed to thin attendance in
Treasury benches during the course of the debate.
But, soon the Government found an opportunity to hit back.
As Mangni Lal Mandal (JD-U) rose to speak, Narayanasamy
entered the House and drew his attention to thin presence of
BJP members when the House was discussing an "important
issue".
However, Harin Pathak (BJP) was quick to react and told
Narayanasamy that it was duty of the Government to listen to
the Opposition. "Our presence does not matter. You have to
listen to the Opposition," he said.
-PTI
