Opposition's allegations akin to 'Gangnam style' politics - Minister Dullas Alahapperuma

Government parliamentarians who joined the second reading of the Budget 2013 said that the Opposition members rather than making any constructive criticism on the Budget proposals had resorted to their usual practice of levelling baseless allegations against the Government. Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma who responded to various remarks by the Opposition members during the Budget debate described this as 'Gangnam Style' politics instead of playing the legitimate role of a vibrant Opposition.

The Minister who gave a brief introduction to the House on Gangnam style dance described how the dancer moves his leg, then the hand and thereafter the head, again the leg, and so on. There is no concerted action. He said the Opposition also follows the very same Gangnam style in politics. This type of politics is mere eye-catching with no serious impact on others. The Opposition's latest move is to spread fabricated stories about the Government affairs. This type of politics has no real benefit to the country or the people the Minister said. He called upon the Opposition to act sensibly and seriously.

Minister Alahapperuma said if the Opposition believes that spreading lies would help them form a Government, then they are sadly mistaken. He urged the Opposition Leader and other Opposition parties not to look at the Budget proposals with their primitive political mindset. He said the Opposition should also adjust themselves in keeping with the recurrent changes taking place in the world's economic and political scenario since 2000.

Tax concession given on sports cars turned into a hot topic of the Opposition during the second reading of the Budget debate.

The Opposition members in their speeches attempted to demonstrate that the budget has given relief only to the pro-rich by ignoring the poor segment of the society. However, the Government members categorically rejecting these claims by the Opposition members said that this tax concession was given to import racing cars with the sole purpose of promoting the country's sports sector.

The Opposition should play its legitimate role without dragging this kind of petty issues before the House. The racing car issue has created fear psychosis among the Opposition as they have not found any effective slogan against the Government, the Government parliamentarians said.

UNP MP Harin Fernando who joined the debate on Wednesday brought half a loaf of bread to the Chamber and likened the Budget 2013 to 'half of loaf bread'. MP Fernando said the salary increase given to public servants by this budget is sufficient to buy only half a loaf of bread. Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella responding to the UNP MP said that there was no constructive criticism in his speech. This raises the question whether the Opposition is doing justice on behalf of the people. So far it has not been possible to deviate from the customary method of conducting budget debates. In this manner we can conclude the budget debate within a few days, he said.

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa said that the poor should not be mistaken when the Government members say that this budget is for the benefit of the nation. In truth, it is a pro-rich budget. Premadasa said besides imposing high taxes on consumer items the Government has conveniently forgotten the tax evaders. Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha who countered the allegations by MP Premadasa told the House instead of talking about the Budget, the Opposition is referring to past incidents.

It is absurd that those who curtailed the number of State sector employees down to 600,000, today make a big voice in Parliament to safeguard their rights, he said. Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Budget 2013 has become historic with its proposal to grant an allowance to the July 80 strikers who were deprived of their jobs by the then UNP Government.

The 13th Amendment once again became a key topic in the House following a statement by the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who said that the contradictory opinions by the various constituent parties of the Government, its allies and officials on the 13th amendment would bring disrepute and embarrassment to the country both locally and internationally. He queried the present stand of the Government on the 13th Amendment. Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva in a detailed reply to the Opposition Leader said that the unchanging standpoint of the Government was to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) representing all the parties to evolve a home-grown solution to the problem of power-sharing. It is regretted to note that the deliberations of the PSC have not got off the ground due to the failure on the part of the Opposition to nominate its members.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa displaying his commitment to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House said that he would certainly guarantee the rights of the independent members of Parliament. The Speaker made this observation when Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Ajith Kumara raised a privilege issue in Parliament on Thursday that he was deprived of his right to speech as he was not given an opportunity to participate in the second reading of the budget debate by the DNA and the Opposition. The DNA MP also told the House about his decision to remain as an independent member in the Opposition. The Speaker told the MP that he would discuss the matter at the Party Leaders' Meeting and ensure justice for him.

The Opposition Leader expressing his views on the issue said that the three main parties in Opposition UNP, DNA and TNA had been given time to take part in the debate. Parliamentarian Tiran Alles has however created a Guinness Record by not making a single speech in the House. What's the use of reserving a seat to an MP who has not uttered even a single word since the day he was elected to the august assembly, the Opposition Leader queried. He said Parliament has to present an award to MP Tiran Alles for not making a single speech.

The Speaker warned all parliamentarians on Friday to be mindful of Parliamentary Privileges and Standing Orders not to divulge matters discussed at the Party Leaders' Meetings and also matters pertaining to the proceedings of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the impeachment motion against Chief Justice.

The Speaker said so when Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena objected to certain remarks by DNA Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on a section of the media regarding the Select Committee. The Minister said that the DNA member had disclosed certain facts discussed at the Party Leaders' Meeting thereby violating Parliamentary privileges. However, when queried by the Speaker, MP Dissanayake referred to a part of the news read by the Minister. The Speaker told the House if any member had divulged any inside information with regard to Party Leaders' Meeting other than what was included in the minutes of the meeting, he would decide whether that member will be invited to the Party Leaders' Meetings in the future.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena drew the attention of the House to the difficulties encountered by the Ministry officials in drafting answers to the lengthly questions raised by the Opposition members. The Minister made this remark when UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake questioned as to why the Government was trying to avoid questions asked by the Opposition. The Minister pointed out that certain questions asked by Opposition members have cost millions of rupees to the relevant Ministry in providing proper answers.

Not only the question itself costs Rs. 60,000, but to find answers to certain questions, it costs more than Rs. 6 million for the Government. Citing an example, the Minister said a question once asked by UNP MP Joseph Micheal Perera did cost Rs. 4 million to government.