Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the opposition wants the functioning of Parliament, but stressed that the government will have to answer serious questions on the India-US interim trade framework, which he termed a “looseness” or concession rather than a fair deal.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Yadav said, “All of us in the opposition want the functioning of Parliament to continue, and it becomes even more important when such a big agreement has been signed with the US. This is not an agreement, but a ‘relaxation’.”
Yadav further said that the scale at which India’s markets are being opened up has made it imperative for the House to discuss the issue. He said, “The House should act because the markets have opened up on such a large scale since 1991-1992. India’s market and economy is surrounded by the US, Europe, China and many other countries. Our foreign policy and relations will be determined by the economy. Therefore, the government should come forward and give direct answers to the opposition’s questions instead of evading many things.”
Using sharp analogies, Yadav questioned the intentions behind recent policy moves. “Looking at the budget and the deal, one is forced to wonder for whom the halwa was made,” he said, referring to the traditional halwa ritual that takes place before the budget.
He also accused the BJP of giving contradictory explanations. He said, “BJP has to clarify whether 18 is bigger or zero. They are saying that 18 and zero are equal.”
Expressing concern about farmers, Yadav raised the question as to why India is now importing millet after promoting it domestically. He said, “You have promoted millet so much and now you are importing it. The fodder for animals will come from there only.” He also attacked the government over unemployment and alleged that the Skill India program has failed to generate employment. He asked, “You used to talk about Skill India. In Skill India, you did not promote anyone’s talent. You only polished your image. Where is Skill India? Where are the jobs? Where are the employment? The government will have to answer all these questions.”
Meanwhile, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha remained disrupted. The House resumed briefly at 2 pm, but was eventually adjourned till February 10, as opposition MPs demanded a discussion on the India-US trade framework. Earlier in the day, the proceedings were adjourned several times.