Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 12: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the Centre is willing to extend the Monsoon Session of Parliament if the Congress and other Opposition parties agree to hold the discussion they have sought on alleged police excesses against student protesters during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march.

Rijiju's remarks came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was “ready to answer everything” amid the continuing deadlock between the government and the Opposition.

Addressing reporters, Rijiju said that if the Opposition agrees to the discussion even at 11 am on Thursday, the last scheduled day of the Monsoon Session, the government is prepared to extend the time.

“For the first time in my life, I am witnessing such a situation where the government wants discussion in Parliament, but the Opposition is running away,” Rijiju said.

He said such a situation was difficult to understand in a parliamentary democracy, where Opposition parties generally demand discussions and the government responds.

“This is not right for a democracy,” he said.

Rijiju said the government had repeatedly conveyed its willingness to discuss the issue and referred to a letter written by Shah to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

“Have you ever heard that the government is appealing to the Speaker of the House to consult with and request the Opposition to come together and agree to a discussion?” he asked.

He claimed that in his 30-year political career, he had never witnessed an Opposition that was unwilling to participate in a discussion.

“Then how will the Parliament function?” he asked.

Targeting the Congress, Rijiju alleged that the party and some other Opposition parties had disrupted proceedings throughout the Monsoon Session.

“Now the public also wants to know why the Congress party is running away from the discussion,” he said.

Rijiju further alleged that Congress MPs had reduced their parliamentary role to staging protests and raising slogans, instead of participating in debates.

“I can't imagine that this is the same Congress which ruled the country for more than 50 years. Nobody can think that the Congress would be reduced to such a state that it is not even ready to face Parliament,” he remarked.

The Union Minister accused the Opposition of failing to recognise its basic responsibility of questioning the government and seeking answers from it.

He also expressed concern for first-time MPs, saying they had not had the opportunity to witness quality parliamentary debate since being elected.

“Opposition parties running away from debates in a Parliamentary democracy is unthinkable and incomprehensible, despite the government insisting for discussion,” Rijiju reiterated.

Responding to whether the government would extend the session to facilitate the discussion, Rijiju said: “We are saying that if the Congress says even at 11 a.m. tomorrow that it is ready for a discussion, we will extend the time.”