"Action to undermine democracy, Constitution": Ashwini Vaishnaw criticises Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha

New Delhi [India], July 29 : Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his speech in the Lower House on Monday and said that the LoP's action, despite being on a constitutional post, is to undermine democracy and the Constitution.
"It is sad that Rahul Gandhi's behavior as the leader of the opposition and the language he uses in Parliament, questioning the constitutional post of the Lok Sabha Speaker, is an action to undermine democracy and the Constitution. There is a history behind this when Rahul Gandhi publicly tore the ordinance brought by his government, so I do not see any intention of him to follow the limits of the Constitution," Vaishnaw said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the speech of Rahul Gandhi in the Lower House, adding that the LoP is being "irresponsible".
"In the Lok Sabha, the way LoP Rahul Gandhi attacked the Speaker and spoke beyond the rules, I condemn it. Being the Leader of the Opposition is a responsibility, but he is being irresponsible. The House works according to the rules and Speaker is the custodian of the House but Rahul Gandhi kept attacking the Speaker. The representatives of 140 crore people of the country sit in the Parliament," Rijiju said.
"Rahul Gandhi should speak according to the rules but he has always been breaking the rules. Since Rahul Gandhi has now become the LoP, he will have to work according to the rules of the Parliament. No one is above the rules or the Constitution. When PM Modi tried to speak in the Parliament, the leaders of the Opposition tried to disturb him throughout his speech," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister added.
This comes after Rahul Gandhi drew parallels from the Mahabharata, on Monday and attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over the Union Budget saying that there's an atmosphere of fear in the country, adding that the country is now trapped in a "Chakravyuh of lotus," referring to the BJP's symbol.
Speaking on the Union Budget 2024 in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that farmers, workers, and youngsters of the nation are terrified.
"In the last speech, I spoke about some religious concepts. Shivji's concept and concept of Ahinsa is that the trishool is placed behind the back and is not held in the hand. I spoke about the snake on Shivji's neck and I also said how all religions in our country proposed the idea of non-violence, which can be capsulated in the phrase Daro mat Darao mat. I also said that there is an idea beyond the personal. The idea of the Abhay Mudra is that transmits this motion of Ahinsa and affection and fearlessness to everybody else. There is an atmosphere of fear, dar ka mahool hai Hindustan main. My friends are smiling but they are also scared. Budget par hi bol raha hu sir. Sir, you see the problem in the BJP: only one man is allowed to dream of being Prime Minister. If the Defence Minister decides he wants to be Prime Minister, there is a big problem--there is fear. So there is fear in the country. The question I was asking myself was: Why is this fear spreading so deeply? Why is it that my friends in the BJP are terrified, the ministers are terrified, the farmers of India are terrified, and workers and youngsters are terrified," Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi criticised the Prime Minister for prominently displaying the lotus symbol and claimed that a new Chakravyuh had been created in the 21st century.
"Thousands of years ago, in Kurukshetra, six people trapped Abhimanyu in a 'Chakravyuh' and killed him. I did a little research and found out that 'Chakravyuh' is also known as 'Padmavuyh' - which means 'Lotus formation'. Chakravyuh' is in the shape of a Lotus. In the 21st century, a new 'Chakravyuh' has been formed - that too in the form of a Lotus. The Prime Minister wears its symbol on his chest. What was done with Abhimanyu, is being down with India - the youth, farmers, women, small and medium businesses. Abhimanyu was killed by six people. Today, too there are six people in the centre of 'Chakravyuh'. Six people control India today too -Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Ajit Doval, Ambani and Adani," he added.
Intervening during Rahul Gandhi's speech, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said "You are on the Constitutional post. Many of your leaders have given me in the writing that jo maniye sadash is sadan la sadash nhi hai uska naam nhi laina hai. This is wrong. From the Leader of the Opposition, I expect that he will follow all the rules and regulations. I expect. You may not follow, but I expect this from you."
After Speaker Om Birla's intervention, the LoP said, "If you want, I will omit the names of NSA, Ambani and Adani, and take just 3 names. If you want, I will use only three names."