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Proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Monday amid an uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Indian-democracy-in-danger remarks.
Gandhi, during the UK visit, had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy were under “brutal attack” and there was a full-scale assault on the institutions of the country.
In the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh stood up and charged that Gandhi has tried to defame India in London through his remarks on Indian democracy.
“Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the Lok Sabha, had gone to London and tried to ‘discredit’ India and said the democratic system in India is completely crumbling. He also said that foreign powers should save India’s democracy. He tried to ‘deeply hurt’ India’s honour and prestige,” he said.
Singh appealed to Speaker Om Birla that the House should condemn Gandhi’s remarks and the Congress leader should be directed to tender an apology.
Ruling NDA members shouted slogans seeking Gandhi’s apology even before Singh started to speak.
The opposition Congress protested strongly too and came to the well of the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said he condemns Gandhi for “seeking intervention of foreign powers like the US and the Europe”.
“If he has some shame, he should come to this House and tender an apology. This is our demand,” he said.
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In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House and Union minister Piyush Goyal demanded that Gandhi come to the House and apologise for his “rubbish” statements made in London.
Without taking Gandhi’s name, Goyal said that the Indian democracy was in danger during the Emergency and when the Congress leader tore up a copy of a legislation.
His statement was countered by Leader of the Opposition and Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge, who said the demand to call a leader who is not a member of Rajya Sabha to the House is condemnable.
Kharge went on to recall Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement abroad but was interrupted by treasury benches.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge speaking to reporters on 13 March 2023. (Credit: @IndianNationalCongress/Youtube)
Later, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took out a protest march from Parliament House complex to Vijay Chowk along with MPs of other opposition parties, including those of the BRS, Left parties and AAP, after the BJP launched an offensive against Gandhi.
Talking to reporters at Vijay Chowk, Kharge said, “They (BJP) are crushing and destroying democracy and are talking of saving democracy and the country’s pride.”
He charged that there was no rule of law and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was running the country like a “dictator”.
“They are ‘suppressing’ opposition parties through ‘misuse’ of agencies. This is like ‘ulta chor kotwal ko daante’ (pot calling the kettle black),” the Congress chief alleged.
Kharge alleged that PM Modi has “ridiculed” India abroad several times and cited examples of his speeches in China, South Korea, Canada, UAE.
If the prime minister can say all kinds of things against India, why is it a crime if Rahul Gandhi does so, he said.
Kharge alleged that all this is being done by the government to divert attention from the Adani-Hindenburg issue.
“We are demanding a JPC on the Adani issue. The government is trying to divert attention from this…We are together and will continue to demand JPC on the Adani issue,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition also alleged that he was being discriminated against in the Rajya Sabha as the Leader of the House was allowed to speak for 10 minutes and when he rose the House was adjourned after two minutes.
