NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday saw adjournments with the BJP stepping up its attack on Congress over alleged links to George Soros and the opposition members alleging that the treasury benches do not want the House to function.
Lok Sabha saw three adjournments till 12 noon, 2 pm and 3 pm. When the House met at 3pm, noisy scenes continued and the proceedings were adjourned for the day.
The Rajya Sabha also saw similar adjournments with BJP leaders repeatedly raising the allegations against Congress, accusing its leaders of collusion with Soros to destabilise the country. Leader of the House and Union Minister JP Nadda repeated party’s allegations that a senior Congress leader “as the co-president of the Forum of the Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, is linked to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation” and that FDL-AP Foundation “has expressed views to treat Kashmir as a separate entity”.
He said the link between Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP) and George Soros is a matter of concern. He accused the Congress party of becoming a “tool” of forces attempting to create instability in the country.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rejected the allegations against the Congress.Amid uproar, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar invited Nadda and Kharge to his chamber to find a way out of impasse. He said there will be another meeting at 10.30 am on Tuesday. The Chairman said that the “functioning of the deep state has been noticed that it affects us more perniciously than COVID disease”.
“I had in my chamber a meeting between leader of the House and leader of the opposition. The purpose of that meeting was to ensure that the House runs smoothly.Both sides had frank discussion and they signalled two things. One, that integrity, sovereignty of the nation is sacred for us. We cannot allow any forces within the country or outside to sacrilege our unity, our integrity and our sovereignty. The leaders had frank discussion. They have agreed to meet in my chamber tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. I would appeal to all the members of the House to carefully consider the oath of the Constitution they have taken,” he said.
“Their oath is very specific. They have to ensure integrity of the nation on a priority basis. Any challenge to the unity of the nation, to the integrity of the nation… requires all of us to offer a united challenge. This is not a challenge to one section or the other. It is a challenge to our very existence. We as a nation are committed to fight these sinister forces, these forces that are inimical to India. This inimical force mechanism, a deep state that is evolving, is required to be neutralised by all of us. I would appeal the Hon’ble members to share the sentiments of the people at large,” he said.
“People at large are extremely concerned that all divisive forces, all forces that are pernicious to the concept of Bharat, all forces that have sinister design to run down our democracy, to bring down our progress to impede our economic upsurge have to be defeated by us. That is a sentiment which 1.4 million people share. That sentiment has to emanate from this House,” he added.
The Chairman said that this House at this critical moment, when the country is facing such serious challenges, and it must send a united voice to motivate the people at large, inspire the people, so that these forces are defeated.
“We in this country, that is rising at a very fast pace, cannot afford to either countenance or overlook such kind of evil designs and our conduct should be such that people get more interest in our parliament because if dialogue in parliament does not share the sentiments of the people at large. The parliament will get into irrelevance,” he said.
“It is fundamental for Parliament to debate such serious challenges that the nation is facing from forces that are determined to run down our country by employing various mechanisms. The functioning of the deep state has been noticed that it affects us more perniciously than COVID disease and this is an occasion where the entire nation needs to speak in one voice. The nation must give a direction to the people at large so that all enemies of Bharat within or outside a total lesson never to venture in a misadventure to challenge our integrity, our sovereignty and impede our progress,” he added.
Dhankhar urged members of both sides will soul-search themselves.”They have to their oaths and set an example to the nation that we are first Indians, nation is first for us. Our commitment to nationalism has to be hundred per cent. We shall not allow our nationalism to go down. We will not bear any challenge that is to our unity, integrity and sovereignty,” he said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh later attacked the government over ruckus in Rajya Sabha on Monday and alleged that it does not want the House to function.
He also alleged that the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to speak while Leader of the House and Union Minister JP Nadda got a “a number of chances to speak”.
He said the opposition wants the House to run and raise various issues. Speaking with ANI, Jairam Ramesh also said that several BJP MPs were selectively called upon to speak by the Chairman.
“What we witnessed in the Rajya Sabha today was surprising and unfortunate. The chairman is like an umpire and is neutral but today the Leader of the Opposition as not get an opportunity to speak. The leader of the House was got multiple chances and specific BJP MPs were given chances to speak,” he said.
“We hold the chairman in high regard. He has served as a Governor before and has expressed concern about farmers’ issues. But it is unclear why today he was compelled not to allow the Leader of the Opposition to speak,” Jairam Ramesh added.
The Congress MP emphasized that they will continue raising issues and submitting notices, whether the government accepts them or not. “Whether it’s about Adani, Manipur, or the farmers’ concerns, there should be debates, and bills should be passed. Our promise of constructive cooperation remains firm even today. However, in recent days, it has become evident that the government does not want the House to function,” he said.
“Running the House is primarily the government’s responsibility. The opposition also has its duties, and we are not shying away from them. I have a question in my mind whether these people will allow discussion on the Constitution in Lok Sabha on December 13, 14 and in Rajya Sabha on December 16, 17,” he added.
Earlier, the Chairman made his remarks to mark the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly of India and said Rajya Sabha derives its strength and purpose from the very principles enshrined in that Constitution.
“I wish to reflect upon a historic milestone in our nation’s journey towards democracy—the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly of India, was held on this very day, December 9, in the year 1946, after its constitution on December 6, 1946. This moment marked the beginning of the profound task of crafting the Constitution of India, a document that stands as the cornerstone of our democratic Republic,” he said.
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was chaired by Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, who was then the oldest Member and also the oldest parliamentarian in India, having served as a Member of the Imperial Legislative Council from the year 1910 and also in the Central Legislative Assembly from 1921.
The Constituent Assembly received three messages of felicitations from America, China and Australia, which were read out by the Chairman then.
“Under the leadership of stalwarts such as Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr BR Ambedkar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Assembly undertook the monumental task of debating and drafting provisions that would guide the destiny of an independent India. They did so with unwavering commitment, often transcending personal and ideological differences in the spirit of nation-building,” he said.
“This House, the Rajya Sabha, derives its strength and purpose from the very principles enshrined in that Constitution. It is our duty, as Members of Parliament, to uphold and protect these principles, ensuring that the aspirations of those who came before us continue to resonate in the policies and practices of today,” he added.
He said debates of members of Constituent Assembly are reminder of the value of constructive dialogue. “Let us take inspiration from the vision and dedication of the members of the Constituent Assembly. Their debates remind us of the value of constructive dialogue and mutual respect, which are essential to the functioning of our parliamentary democracy,” he said.
“As we recall the import of this seminal moment in our history, let us also renew our pledge to serve the people of India with integrity and diligence, ever mindful of the sacrifices that made our democratic journey possible,” he added.
He hoped that the members will lay very high standards in parliamentary proceedings and functioning so as to be a role model for legislatures all over the country.
“It is an occasion for us to commit and resolve that our actions will be exemplified, keeping in view the preamble of the Indian Constitution, and our dialogue and discourse will be attended with respect for one another in a spirit of deep understanding,” the Chairman said. (ANI)