Dictatorship, fascism have entered into BJP’s DNA: Congress

New Delhi: Congress blamed Bharatiya Janata Party for flouting traditions and rules of parliamentary procedure.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC office here today, Gaurav Gogoi and Pramod Tiwari, Deputy Leaders of the Congress in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively, said the dictatorship and fascism have entered into BJP’s DNA, and the parliament has been turned into `Modi’s Durbar', where only his praise is accepted.

Tiwari pointed out, normally it is the opposition that disrupts the Parliament proceedings, as mostly its voice is not heard and it is not allowed to raise people’s issues, but it was for the first time that the ruling party disrupted and stalled the functioning of the House. “It looks like fascism has got into their DNA”, he remarked about the treasury benches.

He also alleged that the ruling party deliberately dragged the Rajya Sabha proceedings till 4 am in the wee hours today to cause disturbances and disruption and get the house adjourned sine die.

He pointed out that against the three hours allotted for discussion on Manipur, it was discussed only for 50 minutes.

Tiwari condemned the BJP MP Anurag Thakur for leveling false and baseless allegations against Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, in the Lok Sabha. Taking a dig at Thakur, he remarked, as he was newly unemployed after being denied a ministerial berth, he was flouting the parliamentary rules.

He observed that not only were the BJP members flouting the traditions, they were not even following the rules. He pointed out, there is a rule that nothing should be said in one House about the members of the other House, as they are not present there to defend themselves.

Speaking on the occasion, Gaurav Gogoi said that the parliament was no longer a forum where people’s voice could be raised and heard, but had turned into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Durbar, where only praise for Modi is acceptable and any positive criticism about the ruling party is not allowed. He pointed out how the ruling party members were routinely disrupting the House and getting it adjourned to run away from accountability and answerability.

The Congress Lok Sabha Deputy Leader was critical of the government for running away from the debate on foreign ministry. He pointed out, the 27 percent tariff imposed by the United States had shaken the Indian economy, and the stock market had crashed. He said, the hard-earned money of the middle class people who had invested in the stocks had vanished and the government was not clarifying its position.

He questioned the government’s inhibitions on discussion about the foreign ministry in the parliament. He asked whether the government was not confident about the External Affairs Minister being able to answer various questions.

Gogoi wanted to know from the Prime Minister what had transpired between him and the Bangladesh Chief Adviser during their meeting in Thailand today. He pointed out Yunus had given a controversial statement on Chinese investment in the North East. He also referred to PM Modi’s letter to him regarding safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh and hoped that he (the PM) may have raised both issues during the meeting.

Referring to the Waqf Bill, Gogoi asked the BJP why it had supported the amendment to the Act in 2013.

He also criticised the parliamentary affairs minister for indirectly referring to Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha, when she is not a member of that House.