Questioning the “silence” of the Prime Minister on the Antrix-Devas deal issue, the BJP on Sunday demanded that he must come clean and give a detailed explanation on various aspects including the action against the four scientists.
“I think the government has a lot of explaining to do. We will definitely demand that the Prime Minister come clean on it. He has to say what was the process adopted in the decision making, who were in-charge when the deal was struck. The Prime Minister remains silent on this issue. He has to give a detailed answer...” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters here.
Ms Sitharaman sought to know whether only the four scientists blacklisted by the government were responsible for the loss. “Do they have the powers to decide on the deal? Several questions remain unanswered,” she said.
On the issue of the alleged exploitation of Jarawa tribals as tourist attractions in Andaman Nicobar Islands, she said, “Forcing the tribals is certainly unacceptable. It is completely wrong. It remains to be corrected. Above all, marketing them (Jarawa tribals) to attract tourists may not be the right way of promoting tourism.”
Calling the Congress government as “lame duck”, Ms Sitharaman said, “Governance paralysis was leading the country to nowhere. Whether it is a report on the Commonwealth Games issue or the black money issue, the government does not give a full reply. They are selective,” she said.
“I think as an Opposition party, we will continue to ask questions in Parliament and also outside,” she said.
On the ongoing row between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the 116-year old Mullaiperiyar dam, Ms Seetharaman charged Prime Minister with not making a “timely intervention” to resolve the dispute.