Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unleashed a comprehensive and scathing critique against opposition parties during his address in the Rajya Sabha, with particular emphasis on political rivals in the crucial poll-bound states of West Bengal and Assam. The Prime Minister's speech, which lasted approximately 97 minutes, focused heavily on the Congress party and the Trinamool Congress, while also making references to other regional players.
Targeting Key Political Rivals
The Congress party, which serves as the Bharatiya Janata Party's principal challenger in Assam and remains a significant contender for power in Kerala, received the bulk of Prime Minister Modi's criticism. Simultaneously, the Trinamool Congress, the BJP's arch political rival in West Bengal, faced substantial scrutiny during the address. The DMK, which currently governs poll-bound Tamil Nadu, also received mention in the Prime Minister's remarks, though without direct charges leveled against the MK Stalin-led administration.
Congress Responds with Criticism
The Congress party swiftly countered the Prime Minister's address, characterizing it as "another election rally speech" and accusing him of disseminating falsehoods. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to express his disapproval, stating: "Another election rally speech lasting 97 minutes in the Rajya Sabha today by the Prime Minister. As always, it was overflowing with abuses and assaults, distortions and dramatics, innuendos and insults -- and of course his usual quota of blatant and brazen lies."
Ramesh further elaborated: "His self-obsession and his fixation on dialogue-baazi and demagoguery was on full display." This exchange highlights the escalating political tensions as multiple states approach crucial assembly elections.
Focus on West Bengal and Infiltration Concerns
Prime Minister Modi specifically targeted the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, labeling it as "insensitive" and alleging that the ruling party actively supports infiltrators. The Prime Minister referenced Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's personal appearance in the Supreme Court to argue against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in her state.
With West Bengal scheduled to elect a new assembly within the next month or two, the BJP is intensifying efforts to wrest power from the Trinamool Congress. Modi asserted: "Our colleagues from the TMC spoke a lot... They should introspect... A merciless government that is creating new records of decline, and they are giving sermons here. Such merciless government is pushing the future of people into darkness."
The Prime Minister further elaborated on infiltration concerns: "They only care about power... Even the most prosperous countries are pushing out illegal infiltrators. In our country, courts are being pressured to save infiltrators." He expressed concern about the impact on youth: "How would the youth of the country forgive such people who are putting in efforts to fight the case of infiltrators? They are snatching the rights of our youth, their livelihood... tribal land. It endangers the lives of our sons and daughters... But they only care about power, and they are advising us."
Congress Under Fire for Parliamentary Conduct
A significant portion of Prime Minister Modi's address concentrated on the Congress party and its historical leadership, including references to Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. The Prime Minister accused Congress of multiple instances of disrespect within parliamentary proceedings.
Modi highlighted three specific allegations:
- Insulting the President and, by extension, the entire tribal and women communities
- Disrespecting Sikh BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu and consequently the Sikh community
- Humiliating an Assamese acting Lok Sabha Speaker while presiding over the house, thereby insulting the Assamese people
Addressing recent disruptions in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister stated: "Congress insulted the President. It's shameful...Yesterday in the Lok Sabha, a discussion could not be held on the President's address. It is an insult to the office of the President. Such people do not have the right to speak about the Constitution."
He further emphasized: "You have insulted tribals, women, and the top post of India." Regarding specific incidents involving parliamentary decorum, Modi noted: "The incident that took place in the Lok Sabha is very painful. We can understand your frustration, but it was done in the temple of democracy. At that time, there was an MP from Assam in the chair, and papers were thrown at him. Is it not an insult to the northeast? Not an insult to the people of Assam?"
This reference specifically concerned Dilip Saikia, a BJP MP from Darrang-Udalguri in Assam, and Krishna Prasad Tenneti, a TDP MP from Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, both serving as members of the Panel of Chairpersons in the Lok Sabha.
Electoral Context in Assam
Assam, similar to West Bengal, will conduct assembly elections within the coming months. The Congress party is mounting an extensive campaign to defeat the BJP, which has governed the state for the past decade. The Prime Minister's remarks about parliamentary conduct involving Assamese representatives carry particular significance in this electoral context.
Opposition Walkout and Parliamentary Dynamics
The entire opposition staged a coordinated walkout from the Rajya Sabha after initially raising slogans against the central government. This action enabled Prime Minister Modi to deliver his speech without significant disruptions, contrasting sharply with the previous day's proceedings in the Lok Sabha where the Prime Minister did not address the house.
Opposition leaders raised specific slogans as the Prime Minister began speaking: "Vipaksha ki awaaz nahi dabegi. Tanashahi nahi chalegi. LoP (Leader of Opposition) ko bolne do. (The opposition's voice can't be suppressed. Dictatorship cannot work. Let the LoP speak)." The opposition claimed that leaders of opposition in both parliamentary houses were being prevented from speaking, prompting their decision to stage the walkout.
This parliamentary confrontation occurs against the backdrop of multiple impending state elections, with political parties positioning themselves strategically ahead of crucial electoral battles that will significantly influence India's political landscape in the coming months.
