Our Correspondent
A delegation of opposition parties today met President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded his intervention for protecting Constitutional democracy, fundamental rights of the citizen and ensuring rule of law in the country.
The delegation, led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and comprising party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former prime Minister Manmohan Singh, JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPI leader D Raja, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, Mr Dharmendra Singh and Mr Neeraj Shekhar of the of the Samajwadi party and leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress, the RJD and the DMK, submitted a memorandum to the President on these issues.
Briefing media after the meeting Mr Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad also alleged that CBI and other Central agencies are being used to harass the opposition parties’ leaders particularly the Chief Ministers.
Azad said the delegation drew the attention of the President to the recent political developments which have “seriously undermined the accepted norms of governance and institutional integrity”.
He said an environment of fear and insecurity is prevailing in the country and voices of dissent are being muzzled.
“In a democracy, the rule of law must prevail, but self- styled lumpen elements have indulged in violence, mob lynching of citizens and harassment is being witnessed across the country,” he said.
He cited recent incidents of lynching of a dairy farmer in Alwar in Rajasthan and similar incidents in Una in Gujarat, Dadri in Uttar Pradesh and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, besides many others across the country.
The delegation also raised the issue that critical appointments have been made “arbitrarily bypassing the Parliament and other institutions”.
They also alleged that key legislations are being “disguised” as Money Bills “to bypass and undermine the Constitution position of Rajya Sabha”.
Azad said the states ruled by non-BJP parties “are being destabilised by misusing the powers of Governors and artificial majority is cobbled up by unethical means” and recent examples of Goa and Manipur were cited in this regard.
The issue of malfunctioning and alleged tampering of EVM machines were also raised with the President, that have reportedly raised questions on the sanctity of electoral process, particularly in recently-concluded elections.
He said in this regard the opposition parties have already met the Election Commission, which has promised to convene an all-party meeting on the issue.
“There has been an attack on cultural, academic and historical institutions, universities, especially Nalanda University and the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library,” he said.
“The continuous violence and failure of governance in Jammu and Kashmir is a matter of grave national concern,” he said.
Azad also added that all central agencies — the CBI, Income Tax and the Enforcement Directorate — are being used to harass leaders of political parties, particularly chief ministers.
“There has never been such harassment of chief ministers and leaders of political parties,” he said
Meanwhile Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu hit out at the Opposition for leveling baseless allegations and spreading false propaganda against the government.
Reacting to the allegations raised by the Opposition parties with the President, Mr Naidu said in New Delhi that they are devoid of issues. He said, the opposition are not able to digest the growing popularity of the Prime Minister and the government.
On the issue of allegation of tampering of EVMs, Mr Naidu said, EVMs were also used earlier and when these parties won then there were no questions . He said, the Election Commission has already clarified the misgivings.
Mr Naidu said, the opposition parties want to dilute the message of victory of BJP led government particularly in Uttar Pradesh. He also clarified that the Central agencies are acting as per law and there is no political vendetta at all against any political party.