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Parliament disrupted again as 2G Case verdict peps up Congress, gives it fresh ammo

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9 years ago

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Parliament disrupted again as 2G Case verdict peps up Congress

The 2G scam case against Congress-led UPA falling through in court provided additional ammunition to the Opposition against the ruling BJP and pepped up an already aggressive Congress targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bizarre accusation of his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh conspiring with Pakistan to influence Gujarat polls.

The mood manifested in the Parliament where the Congress stepped up its attack, once again forcing the Rajya Sabha to be adjourned after 2 pm. Lok Sabha, where the BJP has a majority, continued to function, although amid protests and disruptions.

The ruckus in Rajya Sabha denied cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar his maiden attempt to speak in the House. Tendulkar was to initiate a short duration discussion on the right to play and the future of sports in India, but the protests led Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House for the day. In cricketing parlance, Sachin was sent back to the pavilion without getting a chance to open his account.

The signs were clear from the morning. As soon as the Rajya Sabha met to start its work for the day, Congress members shouted slogans, drowning the voices of other members and forcing Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 2 PM.

Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad sought an explanation from Modi for the ‘false propaganda’ on the 2G scam to come to power in 2014. He said the Congress has, since the past week, been seeking an explanation from the Prime Minister over his allegations against Singh during the Gujarat polls. After the acquittal of all the 2G case accused, “we want to ask where did all the allegations (of scam) go,” he said.

“The BJP had run a propaganda on the 2G spectrum scam that had helped it “move from that side (opposition side in Rajya Sabha) to this side (ruling side) and us from that side (ruling side) to this side (opposition benches),” Azad said.

Naidu disallowed Azad’s submission saying he had not given any notice. Citing a May 22, 1990 ruling of then Rajya Sabha Chairman Shankar Dayal Sharma, Naidu said that the Chair’s ruling on not allowing suspension of a Question Hour or allowing a discussion was final.

With Congress members refusing to relent and even coming out into the Well of the House, even moving up in front of treasury benches at one point, Naidu finally adjourned the House till 2 pm, after several attempts to silence the agitated MPs and make them return to their seats.

Normally, in case of disruptions in the first hour of the sitting, the Chair adjourns proceedings till noon, and the adjournment till 2 pm was unusual.

After 2 pm, Sachin Tendulkar was to get his turn and make his maiden speech. However, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal said he had a point of order: whether CAG reports can be leaked to newspapers before they are tabled. “Can we summon people responsible for tarnishing those in constitutional offices on the basis of CAG reports,” he wanted to know. The question was in the context of the acquittal of all 2G case accused.

He also asked whether the image of those in constitutional offices can be tarnished on the basis of CAG reports when ‘99 per cent of the points’ raised in them are settled after they reach the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for scrutiny.

After this, when Naidu sought to initiate the discussion on sports saying this was Tendulkar’s maiden speech and he should be heard, several Congress MPs got up and raised the issue of the PM’s remark and demanding his apology, shouting slogans: ‘Desh ko gumrah karna band karo’ (stop misleading the nation).

Naidu’s admonitions failed to restore order in the House. As the protests continued, a livid Naidu asked Tendulkar to proceed. The cricketer got up, but could only look on as noisy protests went on. Naidu decided it was best to adjourn the proceedings for the day.

Thursday, being the Question day for the Prime Minister’s Office in Rajya Sabha, Modi was expected to be present during Question Hour slated at noon.

Meanwhile, a report from news agency ANI said that BJP’s Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has given a notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha demanding suspension of business today to discuss “serious situation arising out of the use of derogatory language against PM by senior leaders of Congress”

In Lok Sabha, too, Congress raised the issue of Modi’s remarks against Dr Singh, protesting the Speaker’s decision not to allow them to raise the matter.

The Congress members trooped into the Well during the Question Hour and raised slogans, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan went ahead with the proceedings. Leading the Congress charge was Jyotiraditya Scindia. Little over 30 minutes into the Question Hour, he expressed concern about not being given the chance to raise the issue.

Mahajan said she would not allow them and asserted that the issue was something that was raised at a public meeting and this was an elected House.

An agitated Scindia said the party has been raising the issue for four days but they were not being given an opportunity to speak. “Where is justice,” he asked and wondered “what kind of Parliament is this? Give us a minute (to speak).”

He also took a swipe at the ruling party saying they want to listen to only ‘Mann ki Baat’, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s monthly radio address.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was seen thumping the desk when Scindia was speaking amid the din. Congress MPs kept up the tempo raising slogans: ‘Pradhan Mantri maafi maango (Prime Minister, apologise)’, ‘Taanashahi bandh karo (stop authoritarianism)’ and ‘Shame, shame’.

“It is a serious issue, the allegation was against an ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an ex-Vice President and ex-Army chief,” Scindia said referring to Modi’s remarks at a recent election rally in Gujarat.

Scindia said the voice of opposition was being muffled in the House and questioned if the Government would decide what issues can be raised in the Lok Sabha.

Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Mohammed Salim and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav also came out in support of Congress.

The Speaker, however, did not permit the issue to be raised and proceeded with routine business. Congress members then staged a walkout in protest, with party leader Kharge saying the walkout was being done to “preserve the dignity of the country”.

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CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde sent to 5-day judicial custody

Three CJP leaders, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, were placed under preventive arrest following a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Published

20 hours ago

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October 14, 2026

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Three leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) — Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde — have been placed under preventive arrest in connection with a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The three were detained early Tuesday after crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was recently removed from the list of designated protest venues. A case was registered against them over their alleged actions.

According to the police case, the charges include trespassing, violation of a bond, and obstructing a public official from performing official duties.

The three leaders were produced before a Special Court of the Executive Magistrate on Wednesday and could be sent to judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

Why CJP leaders protested at Jantar Mantar

The protest comes amid demonstrations by the CJP and opposition groups over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protesters were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The controversy centres on allegations concerning the electoral roll revision exercise, which the Election Commission and the BJP have denied.

Jantar Mantar was recently removed from the list of designated protest venues in Delhi. The change followed an order naming alternative locations for demonstrations, prompting criticism from groups that want to hold protests at the established site.

CJP legal team raises concerns over detention

Ratna Singh, head of the CJP legal team, said in a post on X that Delhi Police had arrested Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde at Parliament Street Police Station in connection with the Jantar Mantar case.

Singh alleged that the three were brought to the police station in a private van at around 3 am and were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night.

She also raised concerns about the legal process and the possibility of the leaders being sent to judicial custody.

The allegations regarding access to legal counsel were made by the CJP legal team and should be distinguished from the charges registered by the police.

The arrests mark another development in the ongoing dispute over protests at Jantar Mantar and the CJP’s campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner over the SIR exercise.

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BJP focuses on religion as opposition pushes BDM strategy in UP

The BJP is emphasising religious issues ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, while opposition parties are seeking to consolidate Backward, Dalit and Minority voters. Recent exchanges involving Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi have added to the political contest over the state’s electoral narrative.

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1 day ago

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October 13, 2026

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Ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP is emphasising religious issues, while opposition parties are seeking to build a coalition of Backward, Dalit and Minority voters. The competing approaches have brought caste representation and religious messaging to the forefront of the state’s political discourse.

Recent temple-related controversies in Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura and Sambhal have brought religious messaging back into the political conversation. The developments have also coincided with exchanges between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over possible electoral contests.

Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav trade election challenges

The latest round of political exchanges followed Yogi Adityanath’s invocation of the “80-20” formula during the Rajya Sabha election. Akhilesh Yadav subsequently challenged the Chief Minister to contest from Ayodhya.

During his visit to Ayodhya, the Samajwadi Party president attended a Bhagwat Katha but did not visit the Ram Mandir for darshan. His visit, during which he attended a Bhagwat Katha but did not visit the Ram Mandir for darshan, became another point of political discussion.

The Chief Minister responded during a visit to Balrampur, asking Akhilesh Yadav to contest against him.

The exchanges continued as political leaders questioned the Samajwadi Party chief’s religious outreach. State minister Om Prakash Rajbhar asked why Yadav had not visited Mathura, while AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi challenged him to contest from Sambhal.

Responding to questions about the challenges, Akhilesh Yadav said the Chief Minister does not decide which candidates the parties nominate.

At a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav also remarked, “What could be better than getting the Chief Minister’s chair without even contesting the election?” His comment suggested that Adityanath might not contest the Assembly elections.

Adityanath, meanwhile, said he was pleased to have several options available to him.

BJP works on its own caste coalition

Alongside its emphasis on religious issues, the BJP is also seeking to broaden its social support base through caste representation.

During the Rajya Sabha elections, the party fielded three candidates from Backward Classes, two Dalits, two Brahmins and one Rajput. The Backward Class candidates included representatives of the Pal, Kurmi and Lodh communities.

The report describes the BJP’s selection of candidates from the Sonkar and Rawat communities as an attempt to attract support among the Gaur and Jatav Dalit vote banks. Its selection of two Brahmins and one Rajput was also part of its outreach to upper-caste voters.

These choices reflect the BJP’s efforts to build a social coalition that extends beyond its religious messaging as the state approaches the next Assembly election.

Akhilesh Yadav balances caste outreach with temple politics

The Samajwadi Party is also combining its BDM approach with religious outreach, described in the report as “soft Hindutva”.

Akhilesh Yadav is overseeing the construction of the Kedareshwar Temple in Etawah. When questioned about not visiting the Ram Mandir during his Ayodhya trip, he said he was waiting for the temple’s “Pran Pratishtha”, or consecration ceremony, implying that the ceremony held in 2024 did not count.

Yadav has also raised the issue of alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Temple, a move the report interprets as an attempt to appeal to Hindu voters.

The competing strategies indicate that caste representation, religious issues and temple-related controversies are all featuring in political messaging ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

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L Murugan quits Union ministry to strengthen BJP in Tamil Nadu

L Murugan has resigned from his Union ministerial post and Rajya Sabha membership, saying he wants to return to grassroots politics and dedicate himself to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Published

1 day ago

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October 13, 2026

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L Murugan

L Murugan has resigned from his position as Union Minister of State and his Rajya Sabha membership, saying he wants to return to grassroots politics and work towards strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Murugan, who held the portfolios of Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, announced his decision in a post on X on Tuesday, October 13. He described his time in the Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as a great honour and said he wanted to devote himself full-time to the party’s work in Tamil Nadu.

L Murugan says he wants to return to grassroots politics

In his post, Murugan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the Union Council of Ministers and highlighted his background as the son of daily-wage labourers.

He said he now wished to return to the grassroots, stand alongside BJP workers and dedicate his time to strengthening the party in Tamil Nadu before the next Lok Sabha elections.

Murugan’s stated objective is to help expand the BJP’s presence in the state and contribute to the party’s performance in the 2029 general elections.

Murugan’s resignation comes amid Cabinet reshuffle speculation

His decision comes amid speculation about a possible reshuffle in the Union government. The discussion gained momentum after several Rajya Sabha MPs and ministers, including Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, were not renominated.

However, the report does not establish that the speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle was the reason for Murugan’s resignation. His publicly stated reason was his desire to return to grassroots work and strengthen the BJP in Tamil Nadu.

Murugan thanks PM Modi for the opportunity to serve

Murugan described serving India and Tamil Nadu under Modi’s leadership as one of the greatest privileges of his life. He also referred to his journey from a family of daily-wage labourers to the Union Council of Ministers.

His announcement places his immediate political focus on Tamil Nadu, with the BJP’s preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections forming a central part of his stated plans.

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