‘ Govt using juvenile bill to defame Opp.’

The Congress has accused the government of playing “brazen mischief” by proposing to bring on Monday the unlisted Juvenile Justice Bill in the Rajya Sabha, alleging it was to “defame the Opposition” and divert attention from the DDCA issue. “Let them not do this mischief. This is a total brazen mischief on part of the government... This is only to divert the attention of the Opposition from raising other issues, about DDCA,” Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said after the Congress disrupted proceeding in both the Houses demanding resignation of finance minister Arun Jaitley for alleged graft in Delhi and District Cricket Association.

Asked if the Congress will support the bill, he said, “Yes, we have said bring it tomorrow ( Tuesday). Let them bring it tomorrow.”

He added that supporting is not the question. “The question is it should come before the House. There are 27 Opposition parties and we will discuss it tomorrow,” he said. Mr Azad accused the government of making a “clever” attempt to defame the Opposition.

“You see the cleverness. This is called cleverness. Bring it tomorrow because it is not listed. It is an afterthought. This is only to divert the attention of the Opposition from raising other issues, about the DDCA, so that we do not raise the DDCA issue. Bring the Juvenile Justice Bill, so that they will be abused left and right by mediapersons. Please don’t get into that trap,” he said outside Parliament. Mr Azad said he told the government at the all- party meeting to bring this bill before the House, but it was not listed in Monday’s business. “Now it is an after- thought, so that the Opposition does not rake up the issue of the finance minister. So they said it is OK we will bring up this bill and pass this also. Just to defame the Opposition,” he said adding that whatever is listed on Monday in the original list will be passed.

NEW DELHI, DEC. 21