Support for the protest extended beyond Congress ranks, with leaders from various opposition parties joining in. Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, accompanied by Samajwadi Party MPs, arrived at Parliament carrying the Constitution, symbolising their dissent.
Amidst the controversy surrounding the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha, leaders of the INDIA bloc on Monday (June 24) staged a protest inside the Parliament premises, holding copies of the Constitution of India. The protest, led by prominent figures including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge, highlighted their dissatisfaction with the ruling party's decision.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the ruling party's stance and said, "The ruling party's arrogance is evident as they disregard critical national issues... The appointment of K Suresh as Pro-tem Speaker could have set a historic precedent for the entire Dalit community in India. Today, the BJP has not only ignored the Congress and the INDIA alliance but also the entire Dalit community."
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We will protect the Constitution!
Long live Indian Democracy!
Echo of the Constitution in the corridors of Parliament... pic.twitter.com/nRJuDw2PTi
| Delhi: When asked about Congress and other Opposition parties carrying copies of the Constitution to the Parliament today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "...The attack that the PM and Amit Shah are launching on the Constitution is not acceptable to us, we will not let… pic.twitter.com/skR9zkH30n
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia)Opposition MP's and Rahul Gandhi started showing the constitution to Modi when he was going to take oath in the Parliament.
Narendra Modi, who wanted to change the Constitution, will now have to respect the same Constitution.
That's the power of people in a democracy. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/J4kwCwX4FI
Support for the protest extended beyond Congress ranks, with leaders from various opposition parties joining in. Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, accompanied by Samajwadi Party MPs, arrived at Parliament carrying the Constitution, symbolising their dissent.
Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Kalyan Banerjee, and Sougata Roy also vocally criticized the Modi government, accusing it of constitutional violations.
In response, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar defended Mahtab's appointment, highlighting his extensive parliamentary experience.
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"Bhartruhari Mahtab is a seasoned parliamentarian, elected for the seventh consecutive term. Opposition demands for K Suresh as pro-tem Speaker, despite his non-consecutive terms, defy parliamentary conventions. Congress, known for breaching norms during the Emergency, lacks credibility to lecture on parliamentary decorum," Majumdar said.
The protest comes ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, scheduled to commence discussions on critical issues from June 24 to July 3.