Politics

Lok Sabha session begins with PM’s ‘Emergency’ jab at Congress, Kharge retorts with NEET leak

June 24, 2024

New Delhi: The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began Monday with a resurgent opposition — boosted by the recent show in the general elections — and PM Narendra Modi reigniting the Constitution debate on the opening day.

The tone was set by Modi, who ahead of the Lok Sabha session, said that the people do not want “drama and ruckus”. “The country does not want slogans, it wants substance. The country needs a good Opposition, a responsible Opposition,” he told the media.

Modi further spoke about the 1975 Emergency, which he said was “a black spot” on the Constitution. “We will try (to ensure) that such a stain never comes to the country,” he said on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi showed a copy of the Constitution to PM Modi as he came to take oath as a member of the Lok Sabha. Later, the Rae Bareli MP said the Opposition would not allow the Constitution to be “attacked” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

In his response, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge hit back at the PM, saying that the people have given their mandate against Modi. “PM Modi will repeat this 100 times. Without declaring an emergency, you are acting this way. How long do you plan to rule by bringing this up?” Kharge said.

“He (read, PM) will show some sympathy towards youth regarding the paper leak in NEET and other entrance exams, but he will not take any responsibility for the rigging and corruption of his government,” Kharge further said.

Outside the Parliament House complex, Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav and his wife, Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav, along with Samajwadi Party MPs displayed copies of the Constitution in their hands. And so did the other leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Congress’s Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, as they protested in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament.

Inside the House, senior ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari were among those who were sworn in as members of the Lok Sabha. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan took the oath amid protests by opposition members over the NEET paper leak.

Earlier in the day, BJP chief J.P. Nadda wrote to his Congress counterpart Mallikarjun Kharge, questioning the opposition party’s “stoic silence” over the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy that has claimed nearly 60 lives so far.

Combat strategy on NEET, Constitution 

“The government is expecting barbs regarding the NEET and paper leak issue in the coming days… So, it is well prepared to put all facts related to the past track record of the previous government dealing with such leaks and the Modi government’s promptness and transparency on this issue before the House,” a BJP floor leader said.

“The government has nothing to hide. Accountability was fixed at NTA; a committee was formed and a CBI probe ordered.. We can’t take it lightly, but the government will expose those who are using this opportunity to fire youth sentiments for politics. How the Ashok Gehlot government dealt with paper leak in Rajasthan and other Congress CMs during their time will be placed, too.” 

A BJP insider said that the ruling party would hold press conferences and events across the country to make people aware of how the Constitution was dealt with during the Congress regime for putting the opposition party on the defensive.

“The number game has changed and despite our best attack and narrative, it’s the first time that the government is battling to douse youths’ anger reflected in the recent Lok Sabha elections… Since the youth is a big vote bank, we have to deal with it sensitively like in the case of farmers. That is why the PM asked the minister to make a hard decision against the bureaucrat (NTA chief Subodh Kumar Singh),” a BJP strategy member said.

(Edited by Tony Rai)

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