Opposition walks out during PM’s speech, Dhankhar says insult to Constitution

After the Motion was adopted by voice vote by the remaining MPs, the House was adjourned sine die.

During his speech, which started at noon, Modi said it was possible for him to become Prime Minister because of the Constitution and B R Ambedkar. “I am here because of the Constitution given by Babasaheb Ambedkar. There are many like me who have been able to come here because of the Constitution. The people have also given their mandate for the third time,” he said.

At this point, Kharge sought to make a point of order and intervene in the speech. With Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar ignoring their demands, the Opposition began raising slogans. “LoP ko bolne do (Let the Leader of Opposition speak)”.

The PM then said that he had suggested November 26 be celebrated as Constitution Day, “but it is those who wave around the Constitution these days who rejected my idea”. Kharge wished to comment on this, too, but was not allowed to. Incensed, the INDIA bloc parties walked out of the Upper House. The Biju Janata Dal, too, made a quiet exit. The BJD was the BJP’s informal ally until recently, when the saffron party ousted it from power in Odisha.

Dhankhar called the Opposition walkout an insult to the Constitution. Modi said: “They are running away as they can’t hear the truth.”

Speaking to reporters after the walkout, Kharge accused the Prime Minister of lying in his speech. “We walked out because the PM was addressing the House on the President’s address and told some wrong things to the House. It’s his habit to lie and say things beyond truth. I have just asked him that, when he was speaking about the Constitution, you didn’t make the Constitution, you people were against it. I was just clarifying who the people were for and against the Constitution. They (RSS) have opposed the Constitution. They burnt the effigy of BR Ambedkar and Pandit Nehru.”

We were demanding our Constitutional rights, Kharge added.

Dhankhar said that despite the LoP being given a chance to speak, he insulted the Constitution. “I gave the LoP a chance to speak without interruption. He has turned his back not to you and me, but to the Constitution. He has insulted the Constitution. I condemn their conduct. People of the country would be sad,” he said.

“They (Opposition) are not being able to digest defeat,” the PM remarked, before continuing his speech.

At the end of the session, Dhankhar made another strong mention of the incident and that of frequent disruptions and ruckus. Without mentioning Kharge’s name, he said: “Witnessing seasoned Members conduct themselves irresponsibly was particularly disheartening. I wish to reiterate that disruptions not only impede the transaction of listed business but also erode the prestige of this esteemed institution.”

“Their walkout today was extremely painful. It was a historic occasion. The government is in its third term with the Prime Minister heading it continually after six decades,” he said. “They walked away from their Constitutional ordainment and that has sent a dangerous precedent, antithetical to democratic values.”