NEW DELHI: Congress today found support from the TMC as it accused the government in the Lok Sabha of “repressing” opposition leaders, but the government hit back saying it was using Parliament to send a warning to the judiciary in the National Herald case.
Citing corruption cases against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan, party leader Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the government over its “vendetta politics”, claiming that it applied one set of laws against its leaders and another for those from BJP.
He, however, made no reference to the National Herald case, seen as a trigger for the party’s protests in Parliament since yesterday after the High Court refused to give Sonia and Rahul Gandhi any relief.
Kharge raised the issue during the Zero Hour after Congress members kept up their protests in the Well for the second day today, accusing the Narendra Modi government of targeting those who are not in agreement with its policies.
“There are two laws in this country — one for the opposition and another for the government. When we raised the issue of corruption involving Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh chief ministers, no action was taken.
“But you raided the premises of our Gujarat leader Shankarsinh Vaghela. When a wedding was taking place in the house of Virbharda Singh, CBI raided his house. Nothing came out of this and then ED lodged a case against him. False CBI cases are being registered in Haryana but no action taken against BJP chief ministers involved in scams,” he said.
He also raised the reported meeting of a Union Minister with a Muzaffarnagar riot accused in jail and his assurance of support to them.
“You are adopting the politics of revenge, repression and tyranny against opposition leaders. This is happening not only with us but others like the TMC too. If people do not agree with you, then you try to harass them,” Kharge said amid support from TMC members.
Seeking to dispel the impression that Congress was upset over the National Herald case, he said “we are not against judiciary. We are protesting against your policies of repression.”
Rebutting strongly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu raked up the arrest of BJP president Amit Shah and also enquiries against Modi during the UPA tenure and accused Congress of trying to see that the government fails.
“A judicial order has come,” he said, referring to the National Herald case. “You are giving a warning to judiciary through Parliament. This is not in national interest.”
Both Sonia and Rahul were present in the House and the Congress chief was seen offering some suggestions to Kharge when he was speaking.
The Prime Minister was present in the House for most of the Question Hour when Congress members stormed the Well but left before the Zero Hour at 12 pm.
Naidu said Congress had not been able to come to terms with its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls and BJP’s massive win under Modi.
Attacking Congress, he said, “30 people are not allowing the House to run. They want democracy to fail. They are obstructing progress. They are exposed. They are frustrated.”
Referring to National Herald case, he said the case was filed when the UPA was in power.
Earlier, Kharge also attacked Union Minister V K Singh, who was present in the House, over his “dog” remark.
As Singh kept smiling, Kharge intensified his attack and demanded that the minister be immediately sacked for his “dog” remark after the killing of two Dalit children in Haryana.
Naidu defended his colleague, saying a court had also rejected the charge against him and insisted that the government was “proud” of all its ministers for doing an “excellent” job.
Saugata Roy (TMC) used his time in Zero Hour to support Congress and target the government, inviting a sharp rebuke from the Speaker.
“I fully support the contention of Congress that the government is behaving in a vindictive way. The Prime Minister must respond,” he said.
After the Speaker disallowed him from speaking, TMC members staged a walkout.
With Congress members continuing to raise slogans from the Well even after Kharge was allowed to speak, the Speaker warned them against doing so.
“I have given full time to your leader to have his say. There is no issue before the House. They must go to their seats. I am giving you a warning,” she said.
At another point, she wondered if the Congress members were trying to “scare” the Chair.–PTI
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