In what is a major embarrassment to the government in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition got an amendment passed to the President’s address, the second time in a row for the government and the >fifth time in independent India’s parliamentary history.
This despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing to the Opposition not to move the amendment, when he began his speech, responding to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
Referring to the 300 amendments moved by the Opposition, he said: “I would appeal to you to withdraw the amendments and pass the motion unanimously to preserve the dignity of that office.” After the hour-long speech, in which Mr. Modi took potshots at the Congress, the Opposition did not relent.
The amendment regretted that the President’s address did not support the rights of citizens to contest in panchayat elections, in the backdrop of restrictions imposed in Haryana and Rajasthan, both ruled by the BJP.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad moved the amendment, which was carried with 94 votes in favour and 61 against.
Before the vote, in a speech peppered with mockery and poetry, in equal measure, Mr. Modi targeted the Congress.
“Just as we blame the cause of death for taking away a life and not death itself, so it is for the Congress. If I say something about Sharad Yadavji or even the Bahujan Samaj Party, they are individually referred to by the media, but when this is directed at the Congress, it is said the entire Opposition got attacked.”
Uncharacteristically, he quoted Urdu poet Nida Fazli, asking for cooperation from the Opposition. Safar main dhoop toh hogi, jo chal sako to chalo, sabhi hain bheed main, tum bhi nikal sako toh chalo… [the sun’s harsh rays will be there, if you can, walk beside me, others are there too in the crowd, if you can come, walk beside me],” he said.
He dared Mr. Azad, referring to the amendment, to give one-third of Congress seats in polls to illiterate people. He quoted the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, as saying: “There are some people who do the work, others who take the credit, let us strive to be the former,” in a jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi who claimed credit on Tuesday for the roll-back of the budget plan on EPF tax.
After the Prime Minister’s speech, the Opposition sought clarifications. Vice-president Hamid Ansari said there was only one precedent for such a clarification. Mr. Ansari demitted the chair to vice-chairperson P.J. Kurien. By this time, Mr. Modi also left the House.
When the Opposition moved the amendment, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley argued that the amendment could not be moved as it referred to an issue that was a State subject. “If we put this to vote, every State will have the right to move a resolution criticising the decisions made by Parliament,” he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu also pointed out that the right to contest elections was not a fundamental right, unlike the right to vote. He said the Centre had no role in the decision.
Despite the government’s attempts, Mr. Kurien permitted the amendment as it did not refer to any State.
“There is no mention of any State legislature. If there was a direct mention, we could have considered it in a different way,” he said, deciding to put the amendment to vote.
