By Kushal Jeena /
NEW DELHI: Leading a severe opposition attack on Modi government the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi clearly hinted what is in store for the current session of Parliament. She stressed that the ideals of Constitution are under attack and there is a threat to the principles of the Constitution these days.
Leading from the front the Congress President teased ruling coalition led by Bhartiya Janata Party, saying those who had no role in the draft of Indian Constitution are now praising it. Her hard-hitting speech on a debate called to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar put the Modi government on mat indicating that the winter session of Parliament is also heading to another wash-out.
“There is a threat to the principles of the Constitution these days…What we have seen in the past few months, is total violation of the values of the constitution,” said Mrs Gandhi, setting the stage for a confrontation. Buoyed by its landmark victory in the recently held Bihar assembly elections, the opposition seems all set to put the government on the back-foot over the issue of rising environment of ‘’intolerance’’ in the country. It seems the opposition has already formulated a strategy to get a resolution passed in Rajya Sabha that condemns the recent incidents of intolerance, thus putting the government in an embarrassing situation as the ruling coalition is far behind the majority in the upper House of Parliament.
“No matter how good the Constitution is, if the people who implement it are bad, then the Constitution will also turn out bad. And no matter how bad the Constitution is, if the people who implement it are good, it will turn out to be good,” she said while smiling at protests from the treasury benches, adding, “This is for you and us.”
“The history of the Constitution is very old and is linked to our freedom struggle and that it why it is interlinked with the Congress party,” she said. Speaking in Hindi, Sonia also made a jibe at the BJP saying, “The people who don’t have faith in the constitution, the people who didn’t play any role in framing the Constitution, are swearing by the Constitution. What can be a bigger joke than that?”
Dr Ambedkar, widely acknowledged as the architect of the Constitution, had praised the discipline of the Congress party which helped the Drafting Committee to give full information about every Act in the Constitution the UPA Chairperson pointed out.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the deputy leader of the Lok Sabha initiated the debate in the lower house that will carry forward till Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will intervene in the discussion in both Houses. Before Parliament convened today the PM said, “Debate and dialogue are the soul of Parliament.” He has expressed hope that the opposition will allow Parliament to function this time, after several sessions that saw days of adjournments and little work.
A united opposition has made it clear that it first wants a discussion on intolerance to end with Parliament adopting a resolution.
The government, which is focused on pushing crucial legislation like the key reform measure the Goods and Services Tax bill, has said it is “ready to discuss all issues including that of the so-called intolerance though it falls in the domain of states.” But it is not expected to agree to a resolution.
“We have nothing to hide. We are ready for a debate on intolerance. The government has nothing to feel shy about it,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said on Wednesday.
Ends.