Fiery first day in Parliament as opposition targets PM Modi, vows to protect Constitution

As expected, the first day of the 18th Lok Sabha turned out to be eventful, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiating a state of emergency and the Congress responding with a show of force in Parliament and calls to save the Constitution .

Addressing the media in the Parliament complex at the start of the first session of the new Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi observed that the 50th anniversary of the Emergency fell on June 25, and described it as a “black spot” for Indian democracy when the Constitution was rejected.

Taking on the opposition, Modi said India needs a responsible opposition and people want substance and not slogans. They want debate, diligence and not disruption in Parliament.

Kharge reacts

The Congress was quick to respond to the mockery, with Mallikarjun Kharge saying Modi was resorting to diversion as he had nothing new to offer. He said Modi gave a longer speech than usual “but it is clear that even after moral and political defeat, arrogance remains.”

“Narendra Modi ji, you are giving advice to the opposition. You are reminding us of the 50 year old Emergency, but you have forgotten the last 10 years of undeclared Emergency, which was ended by the people.” a- he declared in a message. on 'X'.

Show of strength from the opposition

In what appears to be a show of strength, the INDIA bloc marched to the Lok Sabha chamber during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, holding copies of the Constitution in their hands. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and TR Baalu ​​were part of the show of force.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of attacking the Constitution and said the opposition will not allow the PM to escape without accountability .

“We will not allow the attack on the Constitution by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. This attack is not acceptable to us,” he told reporters in Parliament.

Asked if the opposition's message was reaching the people, Gandhi replied: “Our message is reaching the people and no power can touch the Constitution of India and we will protect it.”

Later, on social media, Gandhi said the prime minister was busy saving his government.

“Psychologically withdrawn, Narendra Modi is busy saving his government. The attack on the Constitution by Narendra Modi and his government is not acceptable to us – and we will not allow this to happen under any circumstances,” he said. -he declares.

“The strong Indian opposition will continue its pressure, raise the voice of the people and will not allow the Prime Minister to escape without accountability,” he added.

Modi and Council of Ministers take oath

Modi and members of his council of ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, were sworn in as MPs.

Modi took oath in Hindi amid “Jai Shri Ram” slogans raised by members of the Treasury benches.

Before them, senior leaders Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP), who will help the caretaker president administer oath of office to the newly elected MPs, were sworn in as members of the new House.

They will help Speaker pro-tem B Mahtab lead the House when members take oath on Monday and Tuesday.

Congressmen K. Suresh (Congress), TR Baalu ​​​​(DMK) and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC), who were called to take oath as they were also made presidents of the group like Singh and Kulaste, did not attend. presented to take the oath.

The Congress had raised objections to Mahtab's appointment, saying the demand of Suresh, a Dalit leader, who had been in office for eight terms, had been ignored. The INDIA bloc said opposition leaders Suresh, Baalu ​​​​and Bandopadhyay would not join the presidents' panel in protest.

With PTI inputs