Parliament session began last week. (File)
New Delhi:
An exchange between BJP leader Jyotraditya Scindia and his former Congress colleague Digvijaya Singh made for an amusing interlude in the Rajya Sabha, in the middle of a discussion on the farmer protests.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, speaking in parliament for the first time since his crossover from the Congress – his party of 19 years – to the BJP last year, targeted what he called the double standards of the Congress-led government on the farm laws.
“In the 2019 election manifesto, the Congress had promised reforms for farmers. In 2010-11, our Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had written to all Chief Ministers and said that private sector participation was necessary in agriculture and for that, amendments were needed in the APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) Act enacted by state governments,” Mr Scindia said.
“We have to change this habit of changing our word. We can’t have it both ways – how long can this go on?”
Speaking right after Mr Scindia, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh began by complimenting his younger Rajya Sabha colleague.
“Scindia-ji I congratulate you. The way during the UPA regime you used to present the UPA’s point of view in the house, today you have adeptly expressed the BJP’s view. Wah Maharaj-ji wah!” – Digvijaya Singh remarked, using the Madhya Pradesh leader’s nickname.
Mr Scindia retorted: “It is all your blessings.”
To which, Mr Singh returned: “My blessings were always with you and will remain with you”.