Opposition not responsible for passing bill: BJP
December 28th, 2011 - 7:54 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) Reacting to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s remarks blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the defeat of the constitutional amendment bill on Lokpal, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj Wednesday said it was not the opposition’s responsibility to pass a bill.
Talking to reporters, Sushma Swaraj hit back at Gandhi saying the Congress was blaming its own fault on the BJP.
“We cannot pass an unconstitutional bill. If it is dear to Rahul (Gandhi), it’s Congress’ responsibility to pass the bill, not ours,” Swaraj said.
“They could not get a simple two-third majority and they are blaming the opposition. They have shown the arrogance of 273 (majority in Lok Sabha) so many times. When time came, they did not have the 273 (MPs),” she said.
“Accept the defeat, don’t blame us,” said the BJP leader.
The BJP added that it was in favour of a constitutional status for the Lokpal, but only if it did not disturb the federal structure.
“We are in favour of constitutional status without disrupting the federal structure,” said party leader Arun Jaitley.
Gandhi Wednesday morning blamed the BJP for the defeat of the constitution amendment bill on the Lokpal, saying it exposed its “real face”.
Swaraj said the BJP had not supported the Lokpal bill in the lower house either.
- BJP slams government on Lokpal, moots amendments to bill (Lead) - Dec 26, 2011
- Congress to seek explanation from absentee MPs (Second Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- Lokpal bill has many infirmities, says BJP - Dec 24, 2011
- Present Lokpal bill is unconstitutional: BJP - Dec 27, 2011
- Congress blames BJP for non-passage of Lokpal bill (Lead) - Dec 30, 2011
- Delhi to Mumbai: MPs debate, Anna protests Lokpal bill (Afternoon Lead) - Dec 27, 2011
- BJP blocked strong Lokpal: Rahul Gandhi - Dec 28, 2011
- Government embarrassed, bill for statutory status for Lokpal defeated - Dec 28, 2011
- Government begins efforts to reach consensus on Lokpal bill - May 10, 2012
- BJP, Congress seek to pin down each other on Lokpal bill fiasco (Intro-Roundup) - Dec 31, 2011
- Lok Sabha passes Lokpal bill but no constitutional status (Second Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- As Anna fasts, parliament divided over Lokpal (Night Lead) - Dec 27, 2011
- Saw real face of BJP: Sonia - Dec 28, 2011
- BJP 'disappointed' with Lokpal bill, Lalu fumes - Dec 22, 2011
- War of words: Stormy opposition tears into Lokpal bill (Roundup) - Dec 27, 2011
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