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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked "who will answer" for the alleged theft of donations received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and alleged police action on the protestors during the July 20 Parliament march.
"Since day one, the Opposition wanted that a statement from the Home Minister on student issues should come. But the government is not ready for it. Two days are left; the government still has time to discuss both (fund misappropriation at Ayodhya Ram temple and student movement) issues," Yadav told reporters here "It is not an ordinary matter that the offerings to Lord Ram were stolen. It is a question of the faith of crores of people, after all, who will answer for this?....Answer also for the lathis that have been used on students and youth." Yadav's remarks came as he, along with SP MPs Dharmendra Yadav and Awadhesh Prasad, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and other Opposition MPs, protested at Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex. The demonstration was directed against the alleged police action on July 20 against student protesters, as well as the ongoing row over the Ram Mandir donations. RJD MP Manoj Jha also slammed the government's handling of the two issues. "A pyramid of the government's obstinacy and insensitivity has been erected. Pellet guns were fired at students, lathis with nails were used, there are issues of stolen donations and offerings," Jha alleged. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the Opposition of disrupting parliamentary proceedings and said the government was ready for a detailed discussion on student-related issues. "The offer made by the government is very clear that it is ready to have a full and detailed discussion on students' movement and activities related to it," Rijiju said. He urged Opposition members to allow the Home Minister to make his statement and participate in the discussion. "My only point made to the Opposition is that while the discussion and a reply are being made, the Opposition should not create disturbances to prevent the statement of the Home Minister," he added. JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha accused the opposition of disrupting the proceedings of the House. "The Opposition's attitude is to not let Parliament function under any circumstances; they have no interest in hearing answers, they just want to stall the House -- this is their approach," he said. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made an emotional appeal to floor leaders during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, urging political parties to cooperate in restoring the smooth functioning of the House. "Let the voice of the people be heard. Hold Question Hour. Discuss the key bills," Speaker Birla said. "The people's issues cannot be left waiting in the corridors. They must be reflected, debated, and resolved here, on the floor of this House," he added With the Monsoon Session drawing to a close on August 13, the impasse over demand for Amit Shah's statement on the police action and a discussion on the Ram Mandir donation controversy has repeatedly disrupted proceedings in both Houses. (ANI)
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