CPM MP John Brittas questions Rahul Gandhi's absence from Parliament

NEW DELHI: CPM MP John Brittas on Tuesday questioned leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's absence from Parliament in the final days of winter session when crucial bills, including VB-G RAM G, were passed despite opposition's protests.

He also criticised Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's participation at the end of the session in the tea meeting hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla in his chambers, which was also attended by PM Narendra Modi."It was a desire that when a crucial legislation like VB-G RAM G is being bulldozed in Parliament along with other crucial bills on nuclear energy and insurance, we expected the leader of opposition (Rahul) to lead INDIA bloc or opposition rank and file.

That was an expectation and a desire," he told NDTV.Speaking to channels and news agencies, Brittas also said that he was not alone and other politicians from INDIA bloc too felt the same way about Rahul's absence. He said they felt that Rahul's presence would have made a big difference. "The calendar of winter session is known to all members. So, I feel the LoP would have looked at the session's calendar and in all fairness he should have been there.

Rahul's presence would have made a big difference," he reiterated.However, Brittas said that it is up to Rahul and his party to decide whether he needs to be in Parliament or he needs to be elsewhere.On Priyanka's decision to attend the tea meeting, Brittas was clear that it sends out the "wrong message" and cited how in past sessions, when govt passed waqf bill and did not hold a discussion on special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, opposition skipped these meetings. "Compared to all those boycotts, this was a humongous issue," he told ANI referring to VB-G RAM G's passage."Just couple of hours after bulldozing the bill to eliminate MGNREGA, it was not a good scene for us to see Priyanka and others sitting at the tea party along with the PM," he added.