Not heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request to discuss issues in Parliament in a “democratic spirit”, Congress members on Monday created a ruckus in both Houses over imposition of President’s R
Not heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request to discuss issues in Parliament in a “democratic spirit”, Congress members on Monday created a ruckus in both Houses over imposition of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, accusing the Modi government of “murdering democracy”. The issue rocked both Houses on the first day of the second half of the Budget Session with Congress members in both Houses storming the Well and party president Sonia Gandhi joining them in raising slogans. Almost the entire Congress was in the Well in the Rajya Sabha, shouting anti-NDA and anti-PM slogans and members of other Opposition parties, including JD(U) and Left, were seen supporting them. Meanwhile, the government placed copies of the proclamation of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand in both Houses of Parliament amid objections by Congress members.
Before the two Houses met for the day, the Prime Minister hoped that members of all parties would discuss issues in a democratic spirit and take good decisions. He also hoped that members would involve themselves in free discussions, like the last time, and important decisions would be taken. “The first part of the Budget Session was very productive. All the parties helped in running Parliament smoothly and many important decisions were taken. And the MPs of all parties seemed happy about this. This time, too, we will discuss issues with similar enthusiasm and as per the tradition of democracy take good decisions. This is my belief,” the PM said.
Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and his party colleagues staged a dharna in the Well as their notice for an adjournment motion on the issue was rejected by the Speaker. “It is a murder of democracy,” Mr Kharge said. He also told Speaker Sumitra Mahajan that he has given a notice for an adjournment motion on the issue. Members of the JD(U) and AAP were also in the Well along with those of the Congress. AAP leader Bhagwant Mann was seen repeatedly pleading with the Speaker to allow Mr Kharge to have his say.
Amid a noisy protest by the Treasury benches, Mr Kharge said the Union government is purchasing MLAs and pressuring MLAs to install a BJP government “by killing the Constitution”. The Speaker reminded Mr Kharge that the matter was before the Supreme Court and hence he should not say anything further.
Mr Kharge said he was referring to the action of the Central government and not the ruling of the Uttarakhand high court which had revoked President’s Rule. The Supreme Court later stayed the high court order till April 27. He said the House had recently discussed the Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case, which is also sub judice. BJD’s B. Mahtab said his party has also given notice on the issue.
Rejecting the Congress’ charges, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said the “crises” in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh had not been created by the NDA or the BJP and that they were Congress’ “internal crises”. He also welcomed the Speaker’s decision that the issue cannot be raised in the present format as it is under consideration of the apex court.
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the Central government of “deliberately provoking” the Opposition and “inducing” disruption so that the House does not run. Mr Azad said that for the last one year it has been seen that efforts are being made by the ruling party to create a situation wherein the House does not function. The senior Congress leader said he had never seen a government that “does things during the session or just days before the session so that Parliament does not function”. Mr Azad said President’s Rule had been imposed in the past, but never in such a “crude” way.
As minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi objected to the raising of the Uttarakhand issue, saying the matter was sub judice, Mr Azad said the Centre, “which disrespects the court, cannot be trusted”.
The CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury countered Mr Naqvi, saying Leader of the House Arun Jaitley had said in the last session that discussion on issues, even if sub judice, cannot be prevented in the House. “Apply your own precedents,” he said. Mr Jaitley then asked Congress members to debate the issue when the proclamation comes up for discussion.
“But today you cannot by an alternative motion anticipate a discussion which is to take place when the proclamation comes up. You cannot discuss it at the pre-proclamation stage,” Mr Jaitley said. However, Congress members did not relent and several of them trooped into the Well raising slogans like “Modi teri taanashahi nahi chalegi (Modi, your authoritarianism will not work)” and “Loktantra ki hatya bandh karo (Stop murdering democracy)”.
Congress members also disallowed the government to take up the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which seeks to amend the earlier bill of 1950 in this regard. They kept shouting anti-government slogans.
