‘PM shouldn’t be seen to be losing will to rule’

After its ‘weak Manmohan Singh’ campaign fell flat,the BJP has been cautious in targeting the PM despite its on and off barbs on his silence on crucial issues. But on Friday,it launched a frontal attack on Singh in the context of the stalemate in Parliament over the JPC demand,saying he should not be seen as “losing his will to rule”.

As the winter session draws to a close on Monday without transacting any business owing to the impasse,Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said one of the most visible aspects after the month-long stalemate was the “complete absence and silence of the Prime Minister on major issues”. He said the Singh occupies a premier position and he cannot be absent from a national debate in or out of Parliament particularly when the whole country is interested in knowing the real truth and the way forward. “On crucial domestic issues,the PM should not be seen to be losing his will to rule.”

Regarding the PM’s visit abroad when Parliament was in session, Jaitley said such trips should be avoided. He pointed out that his party too was not in favour of stalling Parliament,but the stalemate has prompted the government to take some actions,whether it is the resignation of A Raja or the CBI raids. “Whether the raids are an eyewash remains to be seen,” he said.

The BJP,Jaitley said,is also “seriously examining” the possibility of bringing a privilege motion against Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for announcing a probe into the 2G allocation when Parliament is in session.