Congress resorting to flimsy political gimmicks: Naidu

New Delhi, March 19

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today hit back at Congress leader Jairam Ramesh over his remarks that the government showed “utter contempt” of Rajya Sabha by passing Aadhaar Bill as money Bill and accused Congress of resorting to “flimsy political gimmicks” under a “game-plan”.

“It is not the government which showed ‘utter contempt’ of the Rajya Sabha but it is the Congress that is showing ‘utter contempt’ towards people’s mandate by holding the Upper House with its obstructive attitude.

“The statement of senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that the NDA government showed utter contempt of Rajya Sabha on Aadhaar Bill is reprehensible and once again shows the Congress mindset of opposing a progressive legislation for the sake of opposition even though it aims at transforming the lives of millions of poor and marginalised sections in the country,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said in a statement.

He also accused Ramesh of “casting aspersions” on the wisdom and impartiality of the Speaker by raising questions over her decision to treat the Aadhaar Bill as money Bill.

Noting that it was “unfair” on part of Ramesh to “question the prerogative of Lok Sabha Speaker” in declaring Aadhaar Bill as money Bill, Naidu said by stating it was the recommendation of the government to consider it as a money Bill, the Congress leader, a member of Rajya Sabha, is “casting aspersions” on the wisdom and impartiality of the Speaker. — PTI

What Jairam Ramesh said... 

All top government ministers come from the Rajya Sabha. Yet the government recently converted Aadhaar Bill into a money Bill to clear the RS and avoid its scrutiny. This is an assault on the Upper House. The government is setting a dangerous trend

Union Minister Naidu’s rebuttal 

By adopting an obstructive attitude and blocking important welfare and development-oriented Bills, the Congress is showing utter contempt towards people’s mandate