News Analysis India

Tag: opposition

  • Opposition silent on blasts case verdict: PM; alleges SP govt didn’t want ban on terror groups

    By PTI

    BAHRAICH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday questioned the “silence” of the Opposition over the court verdict in the Ahmedabad blasts case and accused the previous SP government of trying to withdraw cases against those involved in terror attacks in Uttar Pradesh.

    Modi alleged that the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government wasn’t in favour of prosecuting terrorists and banning terror organisations.

    “These people had taken a concrete decision to get the terrorists released from jail. They did not even want to prosecute the terrorists. The Samajwadi government was against imposing bans on terror organisations,” Modi claimed addressing a rally here.

    “Hence, I say that people who cannot think about the country and keep the country’s security at risk can’t do any good to UP,” Modi asserted.

    Modi questioned the “silence” of opposition parties over the court verdict in the Ahmedabad blasts case, saying the country has come to know who were helping them (terrorists).

    “Barely two days ago, a court in Ahmedabad gave death sentence to a number of people who had killed innocent people. The judiciary did the correct thing and we should respect it. But they are sitting silent,” Modi said.

    “This is because they know that their game has been revealed before people. Who was helping? This is now known by each and every child of Uttar Pradesh,” Modi added.

    The PM also rejected claims of rival parties over employment generation and claimed five lakh government jobs were given by the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state in the past five years.

    Intensifying his attack against the rivals, Modi said in the name of “garibi hatao” and Samajwad (socialism), they looted the country.

    Modi also thanked people for not falling in the “trap” of the rival parties over coronavirus vaccine and said his government did not sit idle when the pandemic struck the country.

    Modi said when turmoil in prevailing in the world, India needs to be stronger and for difficult times, a tough leader is needed.

  • Compromise with Parliament’s dignity unacceptable: Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Saturday said it is the right of the Opposition to protest over issues in Parliament but compromise with the dignity of the House is unacceptable. Yadav said this referring to the washing out of the monsoon session of Parliament.

    Among other issues, the Pegasus snooping controversy and farm laws had led to repeated disruptions in both Houses of Parliament.

    Commenting on it after completing his 620-km-long “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” carried out in seven Lok Sabha constituencies of Haryana and Rajasthan, Yadav said Parliament is run through dialogue and in a dignified manner. “It is the right of the Opposition to protest against any issue but it doesn’t have the right to take Parliament’s dignity in its hands,” Yadav told reporters in Ajmer.

    Protest and disruptions are understandable but not pandemonium, the minister added. He said in the recent Parliament session, the Opposition did not let the prime minister introduce members of his new cabinet. The Opposition disrupts proceedings of the House whenever it likes, he alleged.

    He said Opposition members throwing rule book at the Chair in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion was unfortunate. Talking about the “Jan Ashirwad Yatra”, Yadav said he held 75 meetings and seven big rallies. He exuded confidence that the BJP will form the next government in Rajasthan.

    The Congress government has completed two-and-a-half years in the state. Replying to a question on the protest against Centre’s agricultural laws, he said, “I want to clarify that these laws do not abolish the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in any manner. It provides an arrangement that if the city is overcrowded then another way should be given through a bypass. The laws have given a way to farmers to do more business.”

    He alleged that the protest is taking place to mislead people. “Even during the farmers’ agitation, the maximum produce has been procured through the mandi system in Punjab. The Congress should see this figure,” he said.

  • Those who prize freedom must welcome pledge of unity by 19 parties: Congress leader P Chidambaram

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said those who prize freedom above every other right must welcome the pledge of unity made by 19 political parties and supported by the Samajwadi Party.

    Chidambaram’s remarks came a day after leaders of 19 opposition parties announced that they would organise joint protests across the country from September 20 to 30, and urged people to save India for a better tomorrow.

    ALSO READ| Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray urges opposition parties to win people’s trust

    After a virtual meeting of the opposition parties, where they stressed on unitedly moving forward to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the leaders also put out an 11-point charter of demands before the government.

    Referring to the development, Chidambaram said those who prize freedom above every other right must welcome the pledge of unity.

    Those who prize freedom above every other right must welcome the pledge of unity made by 19 political parties and supported by the SP.Bhakts and trolls will ridicule the show of unity, but they should remember the famous words of the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller.
    — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) August 21, 2021
    “Bhakts and trolls will ridicule the show of unity, but they should remember the famous words of the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller. Cynics will scoff at the effort, but they will realize one day that we are fighting for the liberty of all people, including the cynics,” the former Union minister tweeted.

    On Friday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi urged the top opposition leaders to rise above political compulsions to take on the BJP in the interest of the nation and start planning “systematically” to realise the “ultimate goal” of winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to provide a government that believes in the values of the freedom movement and provisions of the Constitution.

    Gandhi gave the clarion call at a virtual meeting of leaders of 19 opposition parties including NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and four non-Congress chief ministers — TMC’s Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), DMK’s MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra) and JMM’s Hemant Soren (Jharkhand) — hosted by her.

    Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote a letter to the Congress president, expressing his inability to join the meeting.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray urges opposition parties to win people’s trust

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has urged the opposition parties to win people’s trust and also called upon them to stay united and strong. He made this appeal during a virtual meeting of opposition leaders convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday.

    Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said, “During the meeting, Thackeray stressed that the parties must win people’s trust.”

    “As of today, there is no lust for power among the opposition parties, but even when the chair of power is in sight, people should be able to trust the opposition parties with the belief that they will remain strong and united,” Raut quoted Thackeray as saying during the meeting.

    The Sena’s Rajya Sabha member said that Sonia Gandhi had personally called up the leaders of all parties and requested them to join the meeting.

    The meeting was attended by leaders of 19 opposition parties, including NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and four non-Congress chief ministers – TMC’s Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), DMK’s M K Stalin (Tamil Nadu) and JMM’s Hemant Soren (Jharkhand) and Uddhav Thackeray.

    During the meeting, Gandhi urged the leaders to rise above political compulsions to take on the BJP in the interest of the nation and start planning “systematically” to realise the “ultimate goal” of winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to provide a government that believes in the values of the freedom movement and provisions of the Constitution.

    Raut said that apart from discussion on how to prepare for the next general elections by staying united, several issues like alleged Pegasus snooping, issues concerning farmers, price rise and “attack on democracy” figured at the virtual meeting, he said.

    When asked about the developments in Afghanistan, Raut said, India faces the threat of Taliban since it has support of Pakistan and China, which are India’s enemies. “If there are voices of support for Taliban in India, the government should crush them immediately, ” he said.

  • INTERVIEW| Government was ready, Opposition did not allow debate: Union minister Pralhad Joshi

    Express News Service

    HUBBALLI: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi held opposition parties responsible for the washout of the monsoon session of Parliament, and specifically pointed out some Trinamool Congress and Congress members for creating a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha.

    While advocating punishment for MPs who behave in an unruly manner, Joshi said he will continue to talk with “sane and sensible opposition leaders” for smooth functioning of Parliament. Excerpts from Joshi’s interview:

    The monsoon session was a complete washout with continuous disruptions. Did the treasury bench fail to reach out to the opposition for smooth conduct of the House?

    I don’t agree that the session was a complete washout. Several bills were passed and amendments brought to the Constitution. Parties such as BJD, TRS, YSRCP and others took part in discussions and passing of bills.

    Lok Sabha deputy leader Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to opposition leaders for smooth conduct of the Houses. Rajya Sabha leader Piyush Goyal and I were also holding talks with them. The government was ready to discuss every issue, including the COVID situation and vaccination, farm laws and economic situation, as they demanded.

    Even on the Pegasus issue, the government made a suo motu statement, but a TMC member misbehaved with the IT minister. The intention of the opposition was quite clear: not to allow the Houses to function. It was clear right from the first day. 

    Opposition leaders are recalling how Pramod Mahajan and Sushma Swaraj would manage floor coordination. Did you fail in your duty in holding an uninterrupted session?

    When they were in charge of floor coordination, the opposition used to behave responsibly. They respected Atalji’s government. But after 2014, the behaviour of the opposition has changed.

    They are not ready to digest the mandate given to the NDA-BJP government in 2019. If they are not in agreement with the policies and programmes of the government, let them go to the people on these issues. 

    Why did the Prime Minister not call an all-party meeting to end the logjam?

    Earlier, no Prime Minister would attend the all-party meeting before the session. PM Modi started this tradition and at the meeting before the monsoon session, he made it clear that discussions and debates are necessary before the passing of any bill.

    But some opposition leaders tried to disrupt that meeting also. As floor leader, Modi deputed Singh and Shah to break the logjam. This is the practice being followed for 72 years.

    Will you initiate action against the MPs responsible?

    The government has taken it quite seriously, and allegations by opposition parties that marshals manhandled the MPs is obnoxious. We will appeal to the Rajya Sabha chairman to hold an inquiry by a separate committee.

    I am not blaming the entire opposition for the ruckus on August 9, but the unruly behaviour of 10-12 members of the TMC and a few Congress MPs. 

    Both treasury and opposition benches are adamant. What is the way forward?

    We will inquire into the Rajya Sabha incident and ensure punishment for the persons responsible, to send a clear signal. The Modi government believes in debate and discussion and is ready to create a congenial atmosphere in the Houses. There are sensible leaders in the opposition, I will hold talks with them.

  • Opposition shoots off joint letter demanding snooping discussion

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Opposition on Wednesday toughened its stand over discussion on Pegasus and said the government’s attempts to divide their unity has failed.In a joint statement issued by the Opposition and signed by floor leaders of 14 parties, they said they stand firm and united on their demand for a discussion on Pegasus issue in both the Houses, to be replied by the home minister, as this has national security implications.The Opposition has also conveyed that discussions on farmers’ agitations arising from the three anti-farmer laws should follow the discussion on Pegasus. AAP, which skipped the Opposition meeting Tuesday, also signed the statement.

    Urging the Centre to respect Parliamentary democracy, the Opposition leaders said: “It is unfortunate that the government has unleashed a misleading campaign to malign the combined Opposition and blame it for the continued disruptions in the Parliament. The responsibility for the deadlock lies squarely at the doorsteps of the government, which remains arrogant and obdurate and refuses to accept the Opposition’s demand for an informed debate in both the Houses.”Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu held meetings with leaders from the Opposition and treasury benches to end the stalemate and said all issues can be taken up for discussion after agreement between the two sides.

    6 TMC MPs suspended

    As uproar continued in the Upper House, Naidu ordered 6 TMC MPs to withdraw for the day, for they entered the well of the House and disobeyed the Chair. He said their conduct was disorderly in the House. The MPs include Dola Sen, Nadimul Haque, Abir Ranjan Biswas, Shanta Chhetri, Arpita Ghosh and Mausam Noor. Another TMC MP, Santanu Sen has already been suspended for the entire monsoon session for snatching and tearing a statement from IT minister Ashwini   hand on Pegasus.In a high decibel drama, four of the six suspended MPs tried to enter Rajya Sabha after the House was adjourned for the day, but were stopped by security officers. Allegedly, there wsa a minor scuffle. Sources said a security official was injured and that action is likely to be taken against the MPs.  

    No change in CAA, informs minister

    The Centre is not amending the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), to grant nationality to members of communities other than those mentioned in the draft, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said no proposal to amend the act is under consideration.

  • Opposition blames government for Parliament logjam, demand debate on Pegasus and farmers’ issue

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Leaders of 14 opposition parties on Wednesday said the responsibility for the deadlock in Parliament lies squarely with the government and urged it to respect parliamentary democracy by accepting their demand for a discussion on the Pegasus row and farmers’ issue.

    In a joint statement here, 18 leaders from 14 parties said that it is unfortunate that the government has “unleashed a misleading campaign to malign the combined opposition” and blaming it for the continued disruption of Parliament proceedings.

    “The responsibility for the deadlock lies squarely at the doorsteps of the government, which remains arrogant and obdurate and refuses to accept the opposition’s demand for an informed debate in both the houses,” according to the statement.

    “The opposition once again urges the government to respect parliamentary democracy and accept the discussions. The opposition parties stand firm and united on their demand for a discussion on Pegasus issue in both the Houses, replied to by the Home Minister, as this has national security dimensions,” it said.

    ALSO READ| Lok Sabha Speaker cautions Opposition not to place placards in front of his chair

    The opposition has also unequivocally conveyed that discussion on farmers’ issues and on agitations due to the contentious agriculture laws should follow the debate on the Pegasus row.

    The statement was issued jointly by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK’s TR Balu and Tiruchi Siva, Congress’ Anand Sharma, Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav, Derek O’ Brien and Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, and Sanjay Raut and Vinayak Raut of the Shiv Sena.

    The other signatories included Manoj Jha of the RJD, CPM’s Elamaram Kareem, CPI’s Binoy Viswam, AAP’s Sushil Gupta, IUML’s Mohd. Basheer, NC’s Hasnain Masoodi, RSP’s NK Premachandran and MV Shreyams Kumar of the LJD.

    ALSO READ| Congress’ Bittu, SAD’s Harsimrat have verbal spat in Parliament over farm bills

    The statement comes after a stalemate in Monsson Session of Parliament with both the Houses paralysed by the opposition’s uproar over their demand for a discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue and farmers’ protests.

  • Don’t get provoked by negative approach of the Opposition, PM Modi tells party functionaries

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday termed the Opposition undemocratic for disrupting proceedings in the two Houses of the Parliament. He also came down heavily on the Opposition MPs for “insulting the rules and procedures of the Parliament”.

    Speaking to BJP MPs during the party’s weekly Parliamentary meeting, the Prime Minister talked at length about “the negative approach of the Opposition” in disrupting the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament in both Houses.

    Incidentally, this session has been highlighted by an unending ruckus over the Pegasus snooping issue, with both the government and the Opposition hardening their stance.

    In an apparent reference to claims by some of the MPs who have taken to social media to slam the passage of legislative proposals by the two Houses, the Prime Minister told the BJP MPs that such statements are an insult to the procedures of the Parliament.

    While a TMC member in Rajya Sabha had torn the statement of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on the Pegasus issue, several Opposition members had torn papers in Lok Sabha and threw it in the air. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi, while speaking to reporters, said the Prime Minister has asked MPs to exercise restraint in the face of provocations by the Opposition parties.

    Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman is also learnt to have made a presentation to the BJP MPs on the state of the economy. She argued that the economy has not been affected by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.  She is also learnt to have given the account of measures taken by the government for various sector to address their concerns during the pandemic.

  • Polls: BJP preps rank and file for shielding Brand Modi

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The BJP is busy preparing its leadership and cadre to argue the party’s stand by arming them with arguments and data on seven broad themes with an objective to blunt the Opposition’s attack on ‘Brand Modi’ in the run-up to the state polls.It has concluded brainstorming sessions on seven themes, which were attended by the national executive of the party along with office bearers. The state units were tasked to replicate them with the state executives, which had to be further repeated at  district levels where the party workers from Mandals also participated. 

    The first session was presided over by BJP chief J P Nadda on two years of achievements of the NDA government. Subsequently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the thematic discussion on national security, said a senior BJP functionary, who added that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held the session on India’s foreign policy and the contributions of the PM in the past seven years.

    “Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar held an intense session on the achievements of the government in agriculture. This session had specially been crafted in the backdrop of the party assessment that despite a slew of initiatives in the farm sector, the Centre continues to struggle in its image among the farmers,” added the BJP functionary.       

    Other themes on which the BJP held intensive sessions with the party leaders include the life and achievements of the ideologue Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, which also covered the vision and the contributions of the Centre with respect to Jammu and Kashmir; Atmanirbhar Bharat, which is the self-reliance pitch of the NDA dispensation in the backdrop of the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. The BJP also held a session on the government’s achievements in matters of tribal affairs.

    “The seven sessions and their replications in state capitals and all the districts were designed to directly arm at least 2.50 lakh party workers with potent arguments backed with official data to counter the narratives being pushed by the Opposition through various means,” said another BJP functionary, who was involved in designing the sessions. “The BJP aims that the word of mouth spread of the party’s stand should be strong enough that people should voluntarily contest the Opposition claims.”

  • Government hopes for split in Opposition ranks to break Parliament impasse

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  With the monsoon session of Parliament entering the last leg, the government is hoping for a division in the Opposition ranks by taking up discussions on Covid-19 and farmer agitations in Lok Sabha, while packing the legislative businesses in both the Houses. 

    The Opposition stays on an aggressive course against the government on the Pegasus snooping issue, with no indication till late Sunday evening of a breakthrough in the ongoing standoff in the Parliament.“There’s no positive development despite a number of efforts made by the NDA leaders in both the Houses. We will see what happens on Monday,” said a floor manager of the NDA in the Parliament. 

    However, the agenda for the Lok Sabha includes a short discussion on the situations emerging out of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is being moved by RSP leader NK Premchandran and Shiv Sena’s Vinayak Bhaurao Raut under Rule 193, which doesn’t entail voting, but only a response from the concerned minister. 

    The bulletin for the lower House has also listed a business to discuss a statutory resolution seeking disapproval of the “Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021, and passing of a bill to replace it, which is likely to be in line with the agreement arrived at during the earlier stages of negotiations between the government and the farmers’ unions before talks broke down.  

    The government has packed legislative business for the ongoing session, and the NDA floor managers appear determined to push through the bills even if Opposition MPs camp in the well of the House.   “Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders are particularly not showing any accommodative stance to arrive at a formula to break the deadlock in the Parliament.

    There exists no chance of the government accepting their conditions for taking up discussions on the Pegasus issue, that the Prime Minister or the home minister be present in the House and either of them reply afterwards. Other Opposition parties have, however, expressed keenness for a compromise. Discussion on Covid-19 will be watched,” said a Union minister, who didn’t wish to be identified. The Rajya Sabha had taken up discussions on Covid-19 before lapsing into pandemonium over the Pegasus issue.