PM Modi sets stage for stormy session with 'Emergency' attack; opposition responds with 'save Constitution' march

NEW DELHI: The 18th Lok Sabha started on a stormy note with both the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led opposition making their intent clear on Day 1 of the session. With the BJP short of majority and the Congress nearly doubled in strength, the number dynamics of the Lower House has changed and Monday offered a glimpse of the fireworks that could follow in the days ahead.

Prime Minister Modi set the stage for the government's offensive making a special mention of the "dark days of Emergency" in his speech ahead of the session. The Prime Minister said the new generation will never forget the day when the Constitution of India was completely rejected by suppressing democracy and the country was turned into a prison. He exhorted people to take a resolve to protect democracy and democratic traditions of India so that such an event never arises again.

The Congress-led opposition, on the other hand, kept the campaign momentum going as it took out "Save Constitution" march to Lok Sabha and later waived copies of the Constitution, both outside and inside the House.

In his customary pre-session remarks, Modi targeted his political rivals as he said people want debate and diligence, and not drama and disturbance, in Parliament. The Prime Minister also reached out to the opposition and stressed on consensus as the need of hour to run the country. “To run a government, we need a majority but to run a country we need consensus,” he said. Substance is important, not slogans , the PM added.

However, with his Emergency attack to isolate the Congress within the opposition ranks, PM Modi made it clear that the government was ready to take the fight to the opposition camp.

PM Modi's attack evoked a strong reaction from the Congress with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge accusing him of imposing "undeclared Emergency" in the last 10 years, which the people of the country have ended by not giving the BJP a majority.

Kharge said the Prime Minister made a longer than usual customary address "but clearly, even after the moral and political defeat, the arrogance remains".

"Narendra Modi ji, you are giving advice to the Opposition. You are reminding us of the 50-year-old Emergency, but have forgotten the last 10 years of Undeclared Emergency, which was ended by the people," the Congress president said in a post on 'X'.

"People have given their mandate against Modi ji. Despite this, if he has become the Prime Minister, then he should work," Kharge said, adding that the nation was hoping that he would say something on important issues.

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister's words that "people need substance, not slogans", Kharge said the Prime Minister should remind himself of this.

Inside Lok Sabha, it was Rahul Gandhi, who led the charge against the Prime Minister as the Congress leader showed a copy of the Constitution when PM Modi took his oath. Rahul demanded that the government address ten fiascos in 15 days that have erupted since the Modi-led NDA government returned to power.

For the first time since he became the Prime Minister in 2014, PM Modi faces an opposition that will not just be vociferous in its attacks but will also have strong numbers in the House. The Prime Minister and his government will face their first challenge on Wednesday, when the House elects a Speaker.

The opposition has made it clear that if the government does not take steps for consensus, it will contest both the Speaker and deputy Speaker's post. Revolutionary Socialist Party's Lok Sabha MP NK Premachandran has dropped hints that INDIA bloc will field candidates for the election of these posts.

"Definitely, we will contest the Speaker post as well as the Deputy Speaker post. Let the government come out with their opinion on whether they are going to discuss with the opposition parties so as to have a consensus on the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and then we will think of it. Otherwise, we will definitely contest," Premchandran told ANI.

With the session commencing under the shadow of medical exam NEET controversy, cancellation of UGC-NET exam, terror attacks in Kashmir, West Bengal train accident, and the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy, a rejuvenated opposition is all geared up to corner the government. The opposition will also focus on unemployment, price rise and economic disparities to put pressure on the government.

Ever since the results were out on June 4, the BJP has tried to push the message that it is business as usual arguing that a third term is vindication by the people for the ruling dispensation. However, the opposition is not buying this argument and leaves no opportunity to remind the BJP that it no more has a majority and is dependent on allies for the survival of NDA government.

The opposition criticized the appointment of Mahtab, a seven-term member, as pro-tem Speaker over Kodikunnil Suresh, a Congress member with eight terms. The Congress-led opposition claimed that this decision breached the tradition that the senior-most MP should be chosen for the role.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of bias against Dalits, questioning why Karnataka MP Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi, also a seven-term parliamentarian, was overlooked for the pro-tem Speaker position.

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