JOIN USThe Congress and the BJP were unsparing in their attacks against each other during a debate on commitment to the Constitution on the first day of Parliament’s winter session.
However, between the attacks, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged smiles as a tug-of-war continued over staking claim to the legacy of B R Ambedkar.
When Home Minister Rajnath Singh hailed Ambedkar as the “architect” of the Constitution, Sonia reminded the Lok Sabha that it was the Congress that brought him to the Constituent Assembly.
Grinning broadly, she asserted that it was the Congress that recognised Ambedkar’s “unique talent and capability”, remarks that drew a smile from Modi, who sat throughout the day-long discussion.
When BJP members objected and suggested that the Congress was trying to stake claim to Ambedkar’s legacy, Sonia quipped, “This is history. Do you have any objection?”
Rajnath sang paeans to Ambedkar, recounting his contribution to putting in place the financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India and Finance Commission in independent India. The winter session began on a note of bonhomie as Modi walked across to the opposition benches and BJP’s allies, exchanging pleasantries.
The prime minister was seen having a brief chat with Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi. The trio was seen having a hearty laugh over some matter. Modi then exchanged greetings with AIADMK leader and Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, RJD leader Jaiprakash Narain Yadav, BJD leader B Mahtab, Union ministers Ramvilas Paswan, Anant Geete and Ashok Gajapati Raju.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was in a conversation with Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu when Modi approached him with “Kharge Saheba” salutation.
In the Rajya Sabha, leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also walked across to the Opposition benches and greeted all opposition leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sharad Yadav, Anand Sharma, Sitaram Yechury and Mayawati.