Disallowing protests in Parliament premises attack on democratic rights: Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party NCP president Sharad Pawar slammed the decision of prohibiting demonstrations and dharnas in the precincts of Parliament House calling it an attack on democratic rights of elected representativesThe Rajya Sabha secretariat in a circular has said demonstrations dharnas or religious ceremonies cannot be held in the precincts of Parliament House The move has drawn ire of the Opposition but authorities termed the issuance of such notices as routine affair ahead of Parliament sessions Addressing a press conference here Pawar said Any attack on democratic rights will not be toleratedThe Rajya Sabha MP said opposition parties are meeting in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the issue and frame a collective stand The monsoon session of Parliament is beginning on July 18 Pawar said when MPs voice is not heard inside Parliament they stage a walkout and hold peaceful protests at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the premises That right is being denied the former Union minister said adding such an action will not be tolerated On the issue of the Shiv Sena an ally of the NCP in Maharashtra supporting the BJPled National Democratic Alliances NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu for Presidents post Pawar said Every political party has the right to take its own decisionsPawar said continuation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA coalition consisting of the Congress the NCP and the Shiv Sena for contesting future elections has not been discussed in his party It is my personal view that the MVA should contest elections together the NCP patriarch said He said 15 days have passed since a new government was formed in Maharashtra but only two people are running the administration as of now Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP took oath on June 30 Why is there a delay in cabinet formation is not known The only work they are doing now is scrapping decisions of the erstwhile MVA government This is not a good precedent Pawar saidThe former Union minister said the countrys economy was getting into trouble and appropriate steps must be taken to revive it Asked about the falling value of the rupee against the US dollar he said Indias economic conditions do not appear to be good The countrys economy is heading towards trouble It is responsibility of the government of the day to see how to keep the economy in good shape and take proper steps for its growth We will raise this issue in Parliament the veteran parliamentarian said Asked about the political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the situation along the Line of Actual Control LAC with China Pawar said these are very sensitive issuesChina has to some extent transgressed the LAC and entered into some parts of our side In this situation the government has not yet told the country what stand it has taken on the issue I feel it is a very important matter and no politics should be brought into this issueall should be united the former defence minister said Asked what issues the Opposition will raise in Parliament during the monsoon session Pawar said two meetings have been scheduled on Saturday in New Delhi one of the opposition and the other an allparty meeting called by the governmentIn the allparty meeting we will listen to what the government has to say and then there will be a meeting of opposition parties where we will discuss and decide our strategy inside Parliament the Rajya Sabha member said Asked whether the Shindeled government will remain in office till the rest of the term of the current Assembly till late 2024 Pawar avoided a direct reply and said he was not an astrologer to predict future happeningsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever