New Delhi: The Congress-led dispensation had promulgated 61 ordinances when it was in power from 2004 to 2014, the government said today seeking to turn the tables on the opposition party on the TRAI (Amendment) bill.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu regretted that the Congress opposed the bill in spite of the fact that it was neither an ideological issue nor one against the interest of the nation.
He said the bill, which was approved by the Lok Sabha today, was just aimed at removing legal hurdles in the appointment of former TRAI chief Nripendra Misra as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
"It was intended for the Prime Minister to have his own secretary", Naidu told reporters.
Trashing the Congress charge that parliamentary practices and procedures have been trampled by bringing the bill through an ordinance route, Naidu said the UPA government had brought as many as 61 ordinances.
UPA brought 8 ordinances in 2004, 4 in 2005, 3 in 2006, 8 in 2007, 8 in 2008, 9 in 2009, 4 in 2010, 3 in 2011, 1 in 2012, 11 in 2013 and 2 in 2014, Naidu said.
Naidu expressed confidence that the government would get the TRAI amendment bill passed in the Rajya Sabha as well in spite of the fact that the NDA does not have a majority in the Upper House.
The Minister has been in touch with a number of opposition leaders including those of DMK, AIADMK, BSP, NCP and JD(U) and had also informally reached out to Left parties.
Asked about the "U-turn" done by the Trinamool Congress on the issue, he said the party had done the "right turn".
Though TMC member Saugata Roy had given a statutory resolution disapproving of the ordinance which the bill seeks to replace, party leader Sudip Bandhoyapadhy supported the measure on the floor of the House.
He steered clear of questions on the issue of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha saying the matter was in the domain of Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
He said discussions on the issue of the Deputy Speaker will begin after the Prime Minister's return from Brazil.
