In a significant political move, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with leaders of the INDIA bloc, staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament. The protest, marked by the holding of copies of the Constitution, was a demonstration against the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem speaker for the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. Congress MP Manickam Tagore, among others, expressed strong disapproval, citing the exclusion of eight-term Dalit MP K Suresh and calling the decision an act of arrogance by the NDA government.
BulletsIn
- Protest Leadership: Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi led the INDIA bloc protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament.
- Protest Symbols: Protesters held copies of the Constitution to signify their dissent.
- Appointment of Pro-Tem Speaker: Controversy arose from the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker.
- Exclusion of K Suresh: Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticized the NDA government for not appointing eight-term Dalit MP K Suresh as pro-tem speaker.
- Accusations of Arrogance: Tagore described the government’s decision as arrogant and lacking consultation with opposition parties.
- Community Impact: Gaurav Gogoi highlighted that the entire Dalit community felt neglected by the exclusion of K Suresh.
- Constitutional Violation: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed the appointment violated constitutional provisions and precedents.
- Opposition Sentiments: Various leaders echoed the sentiment that the ruling party’s actions were dismissive of key national issues.
- Historical Opportunity: Gogoi stated that appointing K Suresh could have been a historic moment for the Dalit community.
- Protest Purpose: The protest aimed to challenge the perceived constitutional violations and highlight the government’s disregard for inclusive representation.
