Bengaluru, 22 Aug 2023: BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya has said that the Gandhi family is not allowing AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, function independently. MP Lahar Singh said that it is sad to see a tall and experienced leader like Kharge being advised by an inexperienced Rahul Gandhi.
Lahar Singh said he never expected a tall leader like Kharge to yield to the diktats of junior MPs like KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and Surjewala. The MP was addressing a press meet in Bengaluru today,
Kharge must follow footsteps of Nijalingappa and Deve Gowda
Like former AICC president Shri Nijalingappa did, Kharge should act independently against any pressures from the family. Lahar Singh said Gandhi family tried to over-ride another stalwart politician from Karnataka, former PM Shri HD Devegowda, but he stood firm and refused to act as per the Gandhi family whims. Gandhi family has always shown bias against senior leaders from Karnataka, the MP said.
Is the nation not more important than the party or the family?
MP Lahar Singh said it was sad to see a tall leader like Mallikarjun Kharge allowing Rahul Gandhi to dictate and skipping the inauguration of the new parliament, allowing his party MPs to needlessly disrupt the parliament and his party MPs in Lok Sabha walking out even before the PM concluded his speech on the No Confidence Motion.
Lahar Singh said Kharge gave false excuses for not attending the Independence Day celebrations. Is the nation not more important than the party or the family, the MP asked. Kharge ji couldn’t even appoint a political secretary and could conduct executive committee only now, Lahar Singh said.
Lahar Singh urged Kharge to take a firm stand and work for the nation as Party President and opposition leader and not for one family.
25 important Bills passed in the Monsoon Session
Highlighting the NDA Government’s achievements, Lahar Singh said that the Monsoon Session of Parliament was a successful and effective session. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, several bills were passed in the public interest, and the misleading propaganda of the opposition alliance was rejected. Despite the constant disruptions and ruckus created by the Opposition parties, the Session saw the introduction of 25 Government Bills, with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 23 Bills saw passage in both houses, while seven Bills have been notified in the Gazette of India, as of 11th August 2023, he said.
Agarbathi makers issues highlighted in Parliament
Lahar Singh said that he was happy to have raised the concerns of Agarbathi industry in Parliament and that Government should take steps to protect our incense industry. Karnataka is the ‘Incense capital’ of the world employing over 4 lakh people, mostly women, he said. The MP said he also raised the issue of irrational freebies given by political parties to win elections and the adverse implications it may have, on the economy, urging the government to check if a legislation can be brought to check profligacy the states.
Passing of Digital Personal Data Protection Bill
Lahar Singh who is also a member of the parliamentary standing committee on IT and Communications said that he was privileged to be in the IT panel and have seen the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill pass through various stages of discussion. This Act is India’s first comprehensive law on the protection of personal data, he said.
Opposition tried to bulldoze Parliament Session
Criticizing opposition parties for disruptions and misrepresentation of facts on the floor of the house, Lahar Singh expressed his anguish against opposition parties for constantly trying to bulldoze the business of both houses by creating ruckus, leading to the houses being adjourned numerous times during the session.
