Amid the ongoing logjam in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday appealed to the Opposition political parties to allow the House to function, saying, “We have important business to be taken up.”
As soon as Parliament met for the day’s business after the weekend break, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were disrupted due to repeated adjournments.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju tried to address the main contentious issue concerning the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the wake of allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) against the poll body made by the Opposition parties. “The matter that the Opposition is trying to raise is sub judice. So, discussion on the issue cannot be held here,” the parliamentary affairs minister said in an earnest attempt to reason with the agitated members of the Opposition.
He further said since the ECI is an autonomous body nothing related to it, as per the set norms, can be discussed in Parliament.
Rules are very clear in this regard, the minister pointed out before asking the MPs from the Opposition parties if they wanted to break them. “Do you want to break the rules established by this august house, do you want to throw (out) the provisions of the Constitution of India,” he questioned in an emotionally-charged voice.
“…from day one (of the ongoing monsoon session) you have been breaking the rules and the conventions established by this house. I would like to request the members to allow the discussion, please allow the house to function. Let us discuss and debate,” the minister said, reminding the protesting members that they were sent to the house to take up the issues of the people.
Meanwhile, a large number of Opposition MPs, who organised a march from Parliament to the ECI headquarters in protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar with the allegation of “vote chori” in the last general elections, were detained by the Delhi Police.
The protesting Opposition leaders, included Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, were bundled away by the city police in buses.
“The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters while being escorted by uniformed men to the waiting bus along with other protesing leaders after detention.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, among many Opposition leaders were detained by the Delhi Police.
Meanwhile, commenting on the political developments, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the protest by the Opposition was their “well-thought out strategy” to create a “state of anarchy”. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, he accused Gandhi of “working” against the Constitution.
“The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies. It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy,” he told reporters.