The opposition has failed yet again - Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has slammed all attempts by the members of Opposition to discredit the 2017-2018 National Budget.

While making his Right to Reply, Sayed-Khaiyum says the Opposition MPs failed to provide constructive criticism and resorted to scrapping fault lines in the barrel.

The Minister for Economy also came down hard on the Shadow Minister for Economy, Aseri Radrodro and Professor Biman Prasad after their responses to the 2017-2018 budget saying their analysis basically lacked understanding.

Sayed-Khaiyum has brushed aside comments made by the opposition that jobs within the civil service are not guaranteed.

Biman Prasad, Aseri Radrodro and other opposition Mps had raised concern that some ministries had asked civil servants on permanent contracts to sign new 3, 4 or 5 year contracts to get the civil service pay increments. Both SODELPA and NFP say that they will scrap the term contracts if they form government after the 2018 general election.

Opposition MP, Prem Singh also said that an NFP government will increase the retirement age to 60 years in the civil service.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the government will not be distracted by cheap political shots by the Opposition, and that government has a vision for the country under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Parliament finished at 10pm last night and will resume today with the Committee Of Supply as they go through the different expenditure items.