New Delhi, June 10
Parliament today witnessed a lively debate between members of the NDA government and those on the Opposition Benches on the Motion of Thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee for his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses yesterday.

The debate was on expected lines with members of the ruling coalition hailing the agenda of the Narendra Modi government outlined by the President to put the economy back on the track and the Opposition, led by the Congress, lambasting the new government for virtually copying the UPA agenda.

Prime Minister Modi will reply to the discussion tomorrow both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. He is expected to clarify his government’s position on specific issues raised by the Opposition.

Intervening in the debate in the Upper House, Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley lambasted the previous UPA regime, saying it had left the country in a shambles with low growth and ‘elevated’ poverty. He said the UPA government was committed to resurrect the economy.

Jaitley also sought to allay the apprehensions of minorities, asserting that the government would have a non-discriminatory approach and take the strongest steps to ensure social harmony and national security.

Leading the Opposition’s attack, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP-led government had only listed out programmes which had already been implemented by the UPA regime. He said the Congress would play the role of an effective Opposition while reminding the ruling coalition of the enormous responsibility given to it by the people.

In the Lower House, BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy initiated the debate, attacking the Congress party for its 65 years of ‘misrule’. He said the people had punished the Congress so badly in the elections that a national party had become a regional party. However, he said it would be the Modi government’s endeavour to carry Opposition along in decision-making processes.

Leader of the Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congress would maintain relentless pressure on the government to ensure implementation of people-oriented programmes, irrespective of the small number of members it has in the House.

We had never imagined that we would have to welcome the Congress as a regional party in the Lok Sabha. The Leader of Opposition is required to select the CBI Director, the CVC and the Lokpal. But even if we want, who should we consult. Let the Congress not worry though. The PM will take everyone along on the path of nation building. —Rajeev Pratap Rudy, BJP You think we are 40 people and you are a strong 300 and so suppress (us). Pandavas may have been very less in number, but they were never intimidated by a 100 Kauravas. —Mallikarjun Kharge, congress