Former External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has opined that it was not correct for the Congress to seek the Leader of Opposition status in the Lok Sabha as it does not have the requisite numbers.
The Congress demand for the LoP status was turned down by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on technical grounds.
Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, the senior Congress leader said as per the rules, the party should have won at least 10 per cent of the total seats in the Lok Sabha, or at least 54 seats, and hence it was not appropriate to seek the LoP status in contravention of the rules, said Mr. Krishna.
“I personally felt it was not correct on the part of the Congress to seek LoP status as it was not right to change the rules in a democratic set up.”
100 days
On the completion of 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, Mr. Krishna said 100 days was too early to judge any government’s performance, and it would require at least six months before any judgment could be passed on the new government. Referring to the performance of the Congress in the State, Mr. Krishna said he was satisfied with the welfare measures and initiatives launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and described the government as being pro-people.
Ruling out his involvement on issues related to the State government such as Cabinet expansion, Mr. Krishna said it was best left to the decision of the Chief Minister.
Mr. Krishna was in the city to participate in the jayanti mahotsava of Sri Shivaratri Rajendra Swami of Suttur Math.
(The Hindu)
