RSS has always been anti-Constitution: Mallikarjun Kharge

The MPs of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, who staged the walkout from the Upper House of Parliament in the middle of Modi's reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address, gathered at the gate of the old Parliament building, the Samvidhan Sadan.

New Delhi: After walking out of Rajya Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday renewed his attack on the RSS, accusing it of being anti-Constitution.

He also alleged that the Prime Minister provided wrong information in Rajya Sabha on the Constitution and other issues. The I.N.D.I.A. and BJD MPs walked out of the Upper House after Kharge was not allowed to intervene during Modi's speech.

The Opposition MPs gathered at the gate of the old Parliament building, the Samvidhan Sadan, where they addressed the media to explain their position.

Kharge said they walked out of the House because the Prime Minister was giving wrong information and that the Opposition was not given a chance to rebut it.

"It is his (Modi's) habit to tell lies, mislead people and speak against the truth...When the prime minister spoke on the Constitution, I wanted to say, you did not write the Constitution, you were its opponent. I wanted to clarify who was for the Constitution and who was against it," he said.

Quoting from an article from RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' from 30 November, 1950 to claim that it had opposed the Constitution as it does not have anything Indian, Kharge said the Sangh Parivar had opposed and rejected the Constitution and now, they are talking about protecting it. "They have been anti-Constitution since the beginning," he said.

AAP's Sanjay Singh said the entire country has seen how the BJP and Modi have taken the Parliament under their control. "When the LoP (Rahul Gandhi) speaks in Lok Sabha, all the leaders disturb him. When LoP (Kharge) speaks in Rajya Sabha, he is disturbed by the BJP. But when Kharge-ji repeatedly requested to intervene, he was not allowed. This is like strangling the Constitution."

DMK's Tiruchi Siva said, "when PM was speaking, Kharge-ji asked just one minute for a clarification. But he was not allowed. Neither the PM, nor the chair allowed him. Where is the democracy? No debate, no discussion. So we were compelled to walk out."

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister made the astounding claim that the situation in Manipur is normal in Rajya Sabha after months of "absolute silence".

"In actuality, the situation is still tense as the MP from Inner Manipur pointed out in the Lok Sabha on 1st July. And the non-biological Pradhan Mantri has still not visited Manipur since it erupted on the night of May 3rd, 2023 - nor has he met with the political leaders of the state. The President's Address too was silent on the issue," he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "Modi-ji also said how much he respects the Constitution. This is the same PM who claimed in the House that they will cross 400-mark, and their leaders were claiming that they will change the Constitution. Today he is talking about Manipur; it's been over 400 days, people there are still distressed. In his third term, PM's first duty was to visit Manipur; but he went to Italy."