Team News Riveting
New Delhi, March 13
The second leg of the budget session of Parliament got off to a stormy start on Monday as ruling BJP and opposition MPs locked horns over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Indian-democracy-in-danger statement made in London recently.
BJP leaders in both the Houses said Gandhi has tried to ‘defame’ India through his comment. As the ruckus continued, the proceedings in the Houses were adjourned till 2 pm. When the Houses reassembled, the pandemonium continued, leading to the adjournment for the day. The Rajya Sabha session was adjourned to till Tuesday. The Lok Sabha session was also adjourned till 11 am on March 14.
The Centre had condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments in London. As the second part of the Budget session began on Monday, Centre demanded that Rahul Gandhi should apologise for ‘insulting India’ in London. Rahul Gandhi had recently alleged in London that the structures of Indian democracy are under “brutal attack” and there is a full-scale assault on the institutions of the country.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while speaking in Lok Sabha said, “Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of this House, insulted India in London. I demand that his statements should be condemned by all members of this House and he should be asked to apologise before the House.” Singh alleged that Gandhi sought foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the country, which should be condemned unequivocally. The defence minister’s demand was supported by ruling alliance members.
A similar statement was also made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, who asked where was democracy when fundamental rights were “trampled” (during Emergency) and where was democracy when an ordinance, duly approved by the Union Cabinet, was torn (by Rahul Gandhi during the UPA government).
Amid the escalating attack against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in UK, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor today came out in his support and said that there is nothing for which former needs to apologise.
While talking to mediapersons in the Parliament premises, Mr Tharoor said, “This is blatant kind of politics because Rahul Gandhi didn’t say what he’s accused of. He specified that ‘we’ll solve issues internally and just want everyone to be aware, Indian democracy is global public good’. There’s nothing that he needs to apologise for.”
