(L to R) Rajnath Singh, Priyanka Gandhi & Akhilesh Yadav speak in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution at the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The ruling BJP-led NDA and Opposition I.N.D.I.A locked horns in Lok Sabha as the two-day debate on Constitution started on Friday with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accusing the Congress of never tolerating the autonomy of institutions and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra returning fire claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand that the Constitution is not 'Sangh ka Vidhan' (RSS' law).
Several MPs participated in the ‘Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India’ with NDA MPs accusing Congress of imposing Emergency, using Article 356 to dismiss governments and about Jawaharlal Nehru’s “mistakes” and I.N.D.I.A parties raising queries on federalism and misuse of central agencies under Modi regime.
Singh initiated the discussion, which will culminate in the Lower House with Modi's reply on Saturday, while it was Priyanka who opened the debate for the Opposition with her debut speech in Parliament. Both sought to set the tone for both sides and attacked each other.
Though the debate eschewed the acrimony of the previous days, a remark by Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra about Justice Loya's death “long before his time” led to two adjournments in the evening.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju objected to Mahua raising the matter which was settled by the Supreme Court and warned of “appropriate parliamentary action”, which the Opposition MPs claimed was “threatening”. The debate resumed after Speaker Om Birla intervened and said he would examine the issue.
Singh said the Congress never tolerated autonomy of institutions and tried to destroy constitutional principles and spirit while it sought to project the Constitution as its own contribution, while deliberately ignoring the contribution of several leaders.
Priyanka said the BJP has realised that the talk of changing the Constitution will not work in the country and the Lok Sabha results have forced them to talk about the Constitution and Caste Census. She also said Modi remains unmoved by the violent incidents in Sambhal, Hathras and Manipur.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged Friday that efforts are underway to reduce the country's minorities, particularly Muslims, to "second-grade" citizens, while Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant claimed judiciary is "no longer independent" and there are instances where judges have resigned and joined political parties.
BJP's Bahrtruhari Mahtab said generation after generation is suffering because of the mistake committed by Jawaharlal Nehru in Kashmir. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh said those who have insulted the Constitution are now walking with a copy of the Constitution and trying to show off as if they are protecting it.