Delhi: Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday took on the Congress over issues related to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) row, intolerance issue, India's policy towards Pakistan and inflation.
He also countered Rahul Gandhi's attack on the government in the Lok Sabha last week.
Intervening in the debate on Motion of Thanks to President's Address in Rajya Sabha, Jaitley rejected Rahul's charge that the government has "given away" the benefits of previous years on Pakistan, saying "We are compelling Pakistan for first time to own up that attack in India is taking place from their land."
However, Jaitley also reached out to the Opposition and asked them to shed 'disruptive' politics.
"I expect mainstream political parties like Congress to be in the forefront of being against these people. Please don't do anything that lends respectability to such people," he said.
In his 45-minute speech, Jaitley also said among other things, "This is the time when we don't need obstructive democracy. Our approach will have to be to work together. This is the spirit with which this government needs to function."
Following is the speech by Jaitley:
My speech in the Rajya Sabha today on vote of thanks to the President's addresshttps://t.co/mohvgHIqk2
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) March 8, 2016
(With Agency inputs)
