Day 5: Neither Congress nor BJP Ready to Lose ‘Intolerance’ Fight
Focus during Day 5 in Parliament stays on intolerance. The Quint brings you live updates.
Day 5: Parliament Sees a Vibrant Debate
The Agrarian Crisis: The day started with focus on the farmer crisis. Union Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh said the government is trying to do as much as possible for farmers.
Caste System: Ramdas Athawale of the Republic Party of India said the caste system was established only for administrative purposes but it’s the addition of a number of castes that has made it a more serious problem.
Cold-blooded Murders: NCP leader Supriya Sule and BJP leader Kirron Kher went back and forth discussing intolerance and whether it’s limited to fringe elements. Sule pointed out Sanathan Sanstha’s agenda of targeting modernist but Kher emphasised that such incidents have taken place even in the past. Sule agreed, but added that those elements are now part of the Maharashtra government, hinting at the Shiv Sena.
Rahul Targets Modi’s Silence: Rahul gave a passionate speech in the Lok Sabha, slamming Modi for silence over the Dadri lynching, the FTII protests and the killing of Dalit children in Faridabad. He added that while Modi remains silent, the finance minister merely says it is all “manufactured”.
Modi’s Speech on the Constitution: In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi spoke to a calmer audience. He said it was time to stop the tu, tu, main, main and work together. He added the “Constitution is not just a guide in terms of legality but a guide to our society too”.
Rajnath Defends Govt: In the lower house of Parliament, amid multiple disruptions, Rajnath Singh said the partition, the emergency and atrocities against Sikhs were the real instances of intolerance in the country. He added the government is intolerant but towards corruption, poverty and an unclean country.
Mulayam Singh is not ready to let go of comments on Dadri lynching or Badaun.
Mulayam says, “The statements or clarifications about Badaun were made by the CBI. It was your CBI probe, not our state police”.
Rajnath responds that probe in both cases will proceed without any biases.
The House adjourns till tomorrow.
In his concluding remarks, Rajnath Singh appeals to all those who returned their awards to take them back and guide the government.
Yes we are Intolerant: Rajnath
Rajnath Singh quotes Sant Kabir and Ustad Bismillah Khan. He says, “We have followed Kabir and Ustad said that given the choice, he would die in Varanasi. When these are our people, how can we be labelled intolerant?”
Rajnath takes the opposition by surprise. He says, “It’s true that intolerance has risen under NDA leadership”.
And then he explains,
“We are intolerant towards corruption, poverty and an unclean country.”
Rajnath’s comment on Dadri lynching incident gets Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav speaking.
Rajnath tells Mulayam that the Centre is ready to order a CBI probe into the matter if necessary.
Rajnath Speaks on Dadri Lynching
“On Dadri, the report by Uttar Pradesh government did not mention beef,” says Rajnath Singh.
Congress leaders disrupt Rajnath Singh even as he is about to speak about VK Singh and the Dadri lynching.
“You have all become intolerant. Kharge ji, you were a very sorted person, how did you become so intolerant,” asks Rajnath with a smile.
Kharge Hits Back
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha says, “We are demanding government response over specific instances. Don’t tell us what leaders in Saudi said or what was published in some international newspaper.”
‘Discussion is on Tolerance, Please be Patient’
As ruckus begins in Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tells Mohd Salim, “You have no tolerance”.
Amid ruckus Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tells Mohd Salim, “You have started the discussion, you HAVE TO listen to the reply”.
“There have been three significant incidents of intolerance in this country,” says Rajnath Singh.
Rajnath says, the first was Indo-Pak partition, second was during the Emergency. And then he continues saying,
Rajnath brings up #AwardWapsi in Lok Sabha.
“Some people who are returning awards have released a statement targeting the prime minister. In that statement they accused the prime minister of being a fascist. Is this tolerance?”
“Those people should at least respect the mandate of the electorate of this country,” Rajnath adds.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha. He reads out quotes of leaders from across the world praising the Indian tradition of unity in diversity.
Rajnath’s veiled attack at Congress.
“I appeal to the people of Congress not to damage India’s reputation in the global scheme of things,” says Rajnath Singh.
Congress and BJP lock horns in Lok Sabha. Congress leaders create ruckus. The party’s leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge says, “Since the time they get up in the morning, BJP leaders only focusses on targeting us”.
Meanwhile in Rajya Sabha, the prime minister discusses Dr BR Ambedkar’s vision for the country.
While Rahul attacks the government in Lok Sabha over FTII protests, Dadri lynching and Faridabad Dalit killings, in Rajya Sabha Modi says it’s time to stop fighting over differences and try to work in unison.
Rahul Rakes up FTII, Dadri, Rationalists’ Murders
In Rajya Sabha Modi says, “Constitution is not just a guide in terms of legality but a guide to our society too”.
Meanwhile in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi takes on the government over the murders of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi. He also slams the prime minister saying,
From Parliament to Twitter, Rahul-Modi Leave no Stone Unturned
It’s not just the leaders. Rahul and Modi’s Twitter handles battle it out in the virtual world, simultaneously.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi targets the prime minister.
“The prime minister has allowed a man like VK Singh continue as a minister who equated dalit children with dogs”.
Meanwhile in the Rajya Sabha, Modi says, “Let’s not indulge in tu tu main main. Let us spread the value of our constitution and take pride in it”.
Modi says, “There are a lot of people even from the Congress party who have contributed to the growth of the country. We are not biased”.
Modi Speaks of the Constitution, Rahul Attacks the PM
In Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi says, “While I heard the PM I could see how profoundly we differ in our thinking”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi says in Rajya Sabha, “We take inputs from anyone who has productive suggestions”.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor takes the debate forward.
Tharoor accuses Prime Minister Modi of forgetting his promises. He says, “Today we feel ashamed when foreign newspapers report of mounting intolerance in India. You cannot promote Make in India abroad if you condone Hate in India at home”.
Sule Responds, Says ‘Sena Your Partner in Crime’
Supriya Sule hits back at Kirron Kher. She says, “Kirron Kher said that there these incidents have been happening for a long time. It is true, she is right. But previously they were just fringe elements. Now they are members of your party. They are your partners in crime. The members of Shiv Sena are your people”.
Slip of tongue.
Arguing passionately in the Lok Sabha that India is not intolerant, Kirron Kher accidentally says, “I don’t believe our ruling party is tolerant at all”.
Kher Takes on Sule, Congress
Kirron Kher takes up the ‘intolerance’ debate in Lok Sabha. She says, “In the discussion about who is intolerant and who is not, you will give statistics and so will we. But when the overall perception is that there is intolerance in the country, that changes everything. That is a very dangerous game”.
Citing examples of incidents within the film industry, Kher says, “Indian film industry has faced a lot of intolerance from the Congress Party. It is a matter of record”.
Kher counters Supriya Sule. She says it’s true that incidents have been taking place in Mumbai but they didn’t start today.
Supriya Sule Causes Furore
Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) slams the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Discussing the deaths of MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare, Sule points out Sanatan Sanstha’s agenda of targeting modernists.
“Put your hand where your mouth is,” she said, causing a uproar in the House.
Giving the context of Gujarat riots, she questioned Home Minister Rajnath Singh, asking him where the common people should go when the same party governs the centre and a state.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned Till 2 PM
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.
The Rajya Sabha, unlike Lok Sabha, proceeded uneventfully.
Lok Sabha Adjourned
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned even as the Rajya Sabha continues to take questions.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh will speak in the House.
Ramdas Athawale Defends the Constitution
Defending the caste system, Ramdas Athawale of the Republic Party of India said that the caste system was established only for administrative purposes. He said the addition in the number of castes is what has made it a more serious problem.
In response to the changes in the constitution suggested by the Opposition, Athawale said that it is the government in power which is responsible for the execution of Constitution.
The current government will be in power for years, he claimed.
In a comment that made the House erupt in laughter, Athawle said Bihar was just one of the few losses the BJP will face.
Derek O’Brien Talks About Cowboy Constitutionalism
Derek O’Brien, Member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) cited a moment in history: Few weeks after 30 January, 1948, the then home minister Vallabhai Patel banned the RSS as it was a crucial period for the drafting of the Constitution.
He reiterated Mamata Banerjee’s comments in December 2014 and Modi’s comment in November 2015 calling the Constitution the only “holy” book of the country.
O’Brien has made a pitch for the inclusion of the word “pluralism” in the Constitution of India.
Farmers Gain Attention in Lok Sabha
Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture, started by saying that his ministry is trying to do as much as possible for farmers, including the ones in Maharashtra.
Ashok Chavan, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, countered Singh’s statements by citing 3,000 farmer suicides.
He asked if the government will forgive loans taken by farmers for immediate relief, as they had not done anything yet.
Even as Chavan was speaking, Singh said money has been provided to states even before calamities strike.
What Happened on Day Four
On the fourth day of the winter session, the Lok Sabha saw a direct attack on the Home Minister Rajnath Singh by CPI(M)’s Mohammad Salim.
Based on an article by Outlook India, Salim claimed that Singh had called Narendra Modi the first Hindu prime minister in past 800 years.
The controversy led to the magazine publishing an apology for erroneously attributing deceased Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal’s words as Singh’s.
The fifth day of the winter session of Parliament has begun.
The issue of rising intolerance in the country has been the subject of discussion in both Houses of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha has started with the leaders speaking while maintaining decorum.
However, the Lok Sabha has started with a furore over incidents of communalism in the country and justice for the victims.
The Quint brings you live updates from Day 5 of the winter session of Parliament.
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