Chidambaram dig at BJP

Finance Minister P Chidambaram made a political point, when he moved the Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition BJP, which has been on the warpath in both Houses of parliament, had held the Houses to ransom, with eye on elections. Finally, when the Finance Bill had to be passed, the Opposition resorted to posturing. As if obliging the government by allowing it to perform its Constitutional job of passing the Finance Bill, the Opposition managed to hit out at the government, without allowing it to reply. The BJP is happy lampooning the government on the floor of the House, even while managing to paralyze the functioning of parliament. When the Finance Bill was moved in parliament, in each House, the BJP leaders sought permission to say a few words and took the opportunity to lash out at the government and staged a walkout, without allowing the government to reply to them. Under the Rules once the Finance Bill is moved, a member can speak only on the Bill and nothing else, unlike in Zero Hour, when any issue can be raised. Chidambaram wondered why the Opposition did not say the same things in a debate and shown the courtesy of hearing government response, as well.