Logjam in parliament: Govt doesn’t want debate on China, US deal, says Akhilesh

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday stood strongly with Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's concerns over China border and held the BJP-led NDA govt at the centre responsible for disruption in Parliament proceedings after the House was adjourned within barely five minutes of its commencement on Monday morning. Akhilesh said it was the responsibility of the govt to ensure the Parliament session is convened smoothly.
"Perhaps the Centre does not want to discuss the issue of China which is why it does not want the Parliament to function," Akhilesh said talking to the media outside the Parliament complex after the House was adjourned till 12 noon on Monday morning. The SP chief said the govt does not want to reply to oppositions' repeated query on the total area that the Indian territory comprised in 2014 and what are the corresponding statistics on date. "What was the total spread of the Indian territory before 2014 and what is it today in 2026? It is a very sensitive border. If the Opposition wants to raise an issue, the govt should at least listen and act," Akhilesh said. Focussing on road infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control, the SP president, who is a sitting Lok Sabha MP from Kannauj, said the Samajwadi Party had suggested construction of a six-lane road from Gwalior to the Lipulekh area to strengthen logistics for the armed forces. "The six-lane road was not approved. The minister concerned said a four-lane road will be laid. Now we have only a double-lane road with paved shoulders," Akhilesh said, raising questions over India's border infrastructure as compared to that of China. Responding to a media query on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for Bharat Ratna for Savarkar, Akhilesh said it was an attempt to divert attention from current issues raised by the opposition. Akhilesh said the opposition wanted to debate an 18% tariff by the US on India and India's zero percent tariff on US in return, but the govt did not want to debate that and was trying to shift focus.Accusing the govt of "handing over India's market to America" and abandoning the spirit of 'Make in India', Akhilesh questioned the impact of India committing to purchase goods worth $500 billion from the US over the next five years. "Goods are already coming in from China, now US goods will also come into India. What will happen to our own goods, the Indian industry and our Indian farmers?," he asked.