BJP to support govt on right to food, Women's Bill

Main opposition BJP on Friday said it will support the government on issues of national importance like right to food for the poor, high economic growth, internal security and the Women's Reservation Bill.
   
"On the issues that are in the national interest, BJP will strongly (stand) behind the government in the first 100 days," Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha.
    
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address to Parliament, Jaitley said the areas in which the government would get support from the BJP include high economic growth, low inflation and the right to food security.

The party which got a drubbing in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, said the 'zero tolerance' phrase was coined by it and that the government would get its backing on securing the country. The BJP was also for one-rank-one pension for the armed forces, he said.

Jaitley said if the Opposition supported the government on Women's Reservation Bill, the "credibility of Indian polity" would be enhanced.

However, the newly-elected Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said there would be several areas where his party would "fiercely" oppose the government. In certain areas, it would "caution the government".

The President's address, which is the policy statement of the government, says that the ruling coalition will bring the women's reservation bill in the first 100 days.

The address also promises 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism, while management of economy to counter global downturn is also among the priority areas of the new government.
   
Jaitley, in his maiden speech as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the opposition will discharge its duties keeping the national interest in mind.

"We will support good things, caution the government where there is a pitfall, and if the government goes astray, we will fiercely oppose it," he said.

The BJP leader cautioned the government that the voters would not accept any alibi for non-performance as the UPA need not have to depend on allies this time.

"Last time you had blamed the allies and got benefit of doubt. This time no alibi will be accepted," he said.
    
The BJP leader said the role of the opposition would be guided by national interest like how to strengthen the country and make India a developed economic power by 2020.

He said the address had no mention of the racial attacks on Indians in Australia. "This is a little disappointing," he said adding that the opposition would stand by the government in its endeavour "so that these inhuman and barbaric attacks are not repeated in future".

Jaitley pointed out that an "ineligible" person was appointed as a lawyer for Kasab trial and "incorrect" DNA of Kasab was sent to Pakistan, which the government later said was a clerical error.
    
Referring to the US advisory cautioning its citizens with regard to travel in India, he said New Delhi has been clubbed with Islamabad.

He said because of such "panic", the IPL tournament was shifted out of the country. "We had cautioned government to understand the consequences ....(that) we will be clubbed with Pakistan and people will stop investment in India. What will happen to Commonwealth Games," he asked.
    
Jaitley said the President's address lacked vision and appeared like a "catalogue" of schemes. It was silent on how the government would protect its borders, control inflation and expedite infrastructure creation.
   
Besides, there was no mention of the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said and expressed concern over "pressure" on India to yield on agriculture negotiations in WTO and on capping of carbon emission norms in climate change talks.
    
He alleged "misuse" of CBI to settle political scores and said its credibility and autonomy has been "completely destroyed" in the last five years.

Jaitley raised doubts whether the communal violence bill could be passed when law and order is a state subject.
    
On the Sethusamudram Project, he asked the government to examine an alternative route.