New Delhi, March 9 The BJP launched a scathing attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday for disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha, accusing the Congress of attempting to hold Parliament hostage.
The ruling party also described Gandhi as a "failed" opposition leader and alleged that the Congress is preventing the Lok Sabha from taking up a notice seeking to move a resolution to remove Speaker Om Birla, as they know the motion will be defeated in the House.
The Lok Sabha was unable to take up the notice seeking to move a resolution to remove Birla on Monday due to repeated disruptions, as opposition members demanded a debate on the situation in West Asia.
Reacting sharply, Union minister Piyush Goyal said, "Rahul Gandhi is a failed Leader of the Opposition. He neither understands the Constitution, nor morality. He has no interest in Parliament's process, procedure, and rules."
Goyal alleged that Congress members arrive in the House with pre-planned placards to disrupt proceedings and waste Parliament's time on baseless issues.
"The Congress is avoiding debate because they know very well that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha enjoys the confidence of the House," the senior BJP leader told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
"Since Rahul Gandhi became the LoP, he perhaps doesn't want the House to function," Goyal added.
Hitting out at Gandhi, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress of attempting to hold Parliament hostage.
"This is the mafia rule of a mafia family," he told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
"Motion after motion... Probably the Congress party and the opposition are suffering from stomach problems," Patra added.