(Image source from: Twitter.com/ANI)
Rahul Gandhi's initial speech as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday sparked heated debate and commotion. The Congress leader brandished a poster of Lord Shiva while targeting so-called "violent Hindus". This remark immediately drew a counter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah called for an apology. Gandhi asserted that "those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth... Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You're not Hindu by any means)." As chaos erupted, with NDA MPs loudly protesting, PM Modi stated that "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious charge." Earlier, opposition lawmakers had walked out of the Lok Sabha after the Speaker rejected their request for a separate discussion on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak proposed by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Gandhi's controversial statement, questioning whether the millions of people who identify as Hindu in this country are violent. He declared that "Associating the sentiment of violence with any religion is wrong, and he should apologize for this."
#WATCH | After LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attacks him, PM Modi responds by saying, "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." pic.twitter.com/HrpCvLg3hF
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2024
The parliamentary session commenced, and legislators promptly raised concerns about irregularities in the NEET-UG exam. However, the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, refused to grant a discussion on the matter, citing established House rules and procedures. He stated that in his extensive experience as a parliamentarian, no other issue had ever been taken up during the debate on the President's address. The Speaker, Om Birla, supported Singh's stance, explaining that there was no precedent for discussing any other topic during this particular discussion. Instead, he suggested that members could submit a separate notice to initiate a discussion on the NEET issue. Consequently, the opposition members left the chamber in protest. Amid the commotion, the Speaker addressed allegations regarding the switching off of microphones, clarifying that some members had made such claims outside the House.
#WATCH | Responding to LoP Rahul Gandhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha says, "The Leader of Opposition has categorically said that those who call themselves Hindu talk of violence and do violence. He doesn’t know that crores of people proudly call themselves Hindu.… pic.twitter.com/yFwIsXeTN6
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2024
The upper house of India's parliament saw a passionate discussion as the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, criticized the governing party for focusing more on catchy phrases than on actual progress and development, during the debate on the response to the President's speech. The Upper House also witnessed moments of playful exchanges as Kharge and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar engaged in friendly banter. Kharge, citing discomfort in his knee, acknowledged his inability to stand for an extended period. Dhankhar promptly offered a solution, suggesting that Kharge could address the House while seated. The mood shifted when Kharge strongly criticized the Agniveer tri-service recruitment scheme, asserting that the morale of the youth had been shattered by this "unplanned and ill-conceived" initiative. Kharge firmly demanded the immediate scrapping of the Agniveer scheme. Earlier in the day, several INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, participated in a demonstration on the steps leading to the Makar Dwar in Parliament, alleging the misuse of investigative agencies to target opposition leaders. Additionally, AAP MP Raghav Chadha held a poster depicting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal behind bars.
