Why is Congress scared?

New Delhi: “I am totally frustrated,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday while addressing the media after Parliament was adjourned yet again.

Attacking the Opposition for stalling the House, Rijiju said this was the first time in the parliamentary system when the government wanted a debate but the “Opposition was running away”.

“I am totally frustrated. For the first time in my life, I am witnessing a scenario where the government wants a discussion in Parliament, yet the Opposition is running away from it. It is hard to imagine this, because in a parliamentary democracy, it is the Opposition that demands a discussion while the government provides the answers. Here, however, the government itself is saying, ‘we will hold a discussion and provide answers’, but the Opposition refuses to listen. Can you imagine such a situation?” Rijiju said. Calling the Congress’ refusal to allow the debate in the House “irresponsible”, Rijiju said that the party that ruled the country for 50 years was now running away from Parliament. “What has happened to this Congress party? It ruled for almost 50 years. Today they are running away from discussion,” Rijiju said. “It is not good for democracy. This is not good for the country,” he added. The entire monsoon session has seen a virtual washout over the Opposition’s demand for Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the crackdown on students during the July 20 protest.