'He's Lost His Mental Balance': Pralhad Joshi Counters Rahul's Attack On PM Modi Over Manipur Violence

Pralhad Joshi said the Opposition did not participate on the discussion of any Bills, except the Delhi Services Bill, in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “letting Manipur burn”, saying that he has “lost his mental balance”.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had justified his ‘Bharat Mata’ jibe at the Centre, saying that he was not even allowed to say the word in Parliament. He claimed further that PM Modi was “laughing and joking” with fellow colleagues in the Treasury while the House was debating the no-confidence motion against the Centre over Manipur.

Addressing a presser on Friday, Joshi responded to Gandhi’s charge saying, “Congress and other Opposition parties never thought that we would agree for a discussion on Manipur. Like PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, we should be sensitive about the issue. We all saw what Rahul Gandhi said today. I think he has lost his mental balance.”

Further slamming the Congress leader for not staying on for the PM’s reply to the motion and specifically on the Manipur question, the Union Minister said it was “unfortunate” that the Opposition party was “behaving irresponsibly”.

“He wasn’t in the House to listen to the reply. He did not come to the House (today). It is very unfortunate that the so-called grand old party is behaving so irresponsibly,” Joshi said.

Claiming that the Opposition did not participate on Bills for “political reasons”, the Union Minister said, “The opposition for political reasons did not participate in the discussion (on Bills). They participated only in discussions on the Delhi Services Bill. The government never wanted a Bill to be passed without discussion. In the Rajya Sabha, discussion on almost all Bills were held.”

“A total of 20 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and 55 in the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session that concluded on Friday. Seventeen meetings were held. Twenty Bills were passed in the Lower House and three Bills were sent to the Rajya Sabha Standing Committee. There were many Bills of national importance, but the Opposition did not participate in the discussion. Hope they come prepared for the next Session,” Joshi added.