New Delhi, Jul 28 (DHNS): Expressing unhappiness over the ongoing disruption in Parliament, former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Monday said he was “ashamed” to sit in Parliament and that he has “no interest” to attend the session till the farmers' suicide issue is taken up for discussion.
“I have no interest to go to Parliament and sign the attendance register to take (daily allowance of) Rs 2,000. I do not want to go to Parliament till the issue of farmers is taken up," said Gowda, who observed fast at Jantar Mantar, slamming the government for its "negligence" towards farmers.
Demanding discussion in Parliament on the farmers' suicide in the country, he said both BJP and Congress should take crises in agrarian sector seriously.
Flanked by party MPs, MLAs, and Samajwadi Party supporters, the JD(S) leader attacked Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh for his reply in Parliament on farmers' suicide. A written reply on farmer suicides by Agriculture Minister in Parliament last week in which a reference to love affairs and impotency being causes had triggered a storm with Opposition parties accusing the government of being insensitive.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav, K C Tyagi and CPI leader D Raja took part in the protest and extended their support. Former chief minister of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy and JD(S) legislators also participated.
Addressing the gathering, Gowda said when BJP was in Opposition for 10 years, it disrupted the House and now NDA has come to power, the UPA is disturbing the House. He said that the two national parties were taking up the issue of corruption in a way “as if they want to remove corruption tomorrow".
Gowda also chose the occasion to give a call for early unification of the constituents of erstwhile Janata Parivar efforts for which started last year itself.