New Delhi, December 5: With the auto sector in the country facing its worst slowdown in decades, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh -- Virendra Singh Mast -- quashed the reports stating that opposition is conspiring to defame the Union government. To support his argument, the lawmaker even claimed in Parliament that there is a decline in automobile sales, then why are there traffic jams on the roads?

In an attempt to attack the opposition in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session on Thursday, Mast made a bizarre claim by saying, "To defame the nation and government people are saying that the automobile sector has slowed down. If there is a decline in automobile sales, then why are there traffic jams on the roads?" Onion Prices On Rise, Azam Khan Goes Sarcastic: 'Stop Eating Onions, Stop Eating Garlic, Stop Eating Meat'.

Here's the ANI tweet:

The controversial claim by the Ballia MP comes at a time when the Indian automobile industry has been in the throes of a slowdown for several months. As per the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) data, the Indian auto sector's total sales declined by 12.76 per cent to 21,76,136 units in October from 24,94,345 units. Auto Sector Crisis Continues Despite Marginal Rise in October 2019 Passenger Vehicle Sales Due to Festive Buying.

Apart from this, SIAM data had revealed that the domestic car sales were down almost 6.34 per cent at 1,73,649 compared to 1,85,400 units in October 2018. The motorcycles sales also slowed almost 16 percent to 11,16,970 units against 13,27,758 units in the corresponding period a year ago. Also, the total commercial vehicle sales declined by 23 per cent to 66,773 units during last month as compared with 87,067 units in the same month the previous year.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland aid the company proposes to observe non-working days in a few plants in December to align production at its facilities in line with market demand. Even several automobile firms including Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, TVS Group firm Sundaram-Clayton had announced similar non-working days in the past.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 05, 2019 07:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).