‘Clearly misplaced… shows double standard’: JP Nadda on Opposition walkout in Rajya Sabha over PM’s absence

On the post-attack debate in 2008, he said: “It is a matter of record that discussions took place in both Houses on the statement made on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In the Lok Sabha, the then Home Minister and the Prime Minister replied to the debate, and in the Rajya Sabha, the then Minister of Home Affairs replied to the discussion.”

During Home Minister Amit Shah’s reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge had said: “Many of the questions that we have raised concern him (the Prime Minister). I’m not saying that you (the Home Minister) are not capable of responding. But if the Prime Minister is not in the House despite being here (in Parliament), it is an insult to the House.”

Nadda responded on Thursday: “It is a matter of record that the Chair had made it clear during the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) meeting and in the House that it is the prerogative of the government to decide which Minister should speak and reply to the discussion in the House.”

He added: “The Opposition parties had demanded a discussion and sought information from the government on Operation Sindoor. However, when the opportunity came, they chose to walk out without listening to the Home Minister’s reply. Therefore, their demand was clearly misplaced, and it displays a double standard, given the precedent I just quoted regarding the discussions on the Mumbai terror attack.”