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RS protests: Jaitley says Modi didn’t question Manmohan Singh’s commitment to nation

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9 years ago

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RS protests: Jaitley says Modi didn’t question Manmohan Singh’s commitment to nation

BJP goes on the defensive to broker peace with Congress-led Opposition, apologises on behalf of Modi while distancing from Hegde’s comments

 An end to the protests that have stalled Parliament proceedings, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, ever since the winter session began on December 15, was in sight on Wednesday. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley told the Upper House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mean to question his predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh, or former Vice President Hamid Ansari’s commitment to the nation.

 The submission by Jaitley, who is also the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, comes after Opposition members forced a wash out of the past six sittings of the Upper House demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for suggesting during the election campaign for Gujarat Assembly that Dr Singh, Ansari and the Congress party was ‘conspiring with Pakistan’ to oust the BJP from Gujarat.

 Modi’s statement – unsubstantiated as it was – had been squarely slammed by Dr Singh, who had accused the Prime Minister of “spreading falsehoods and canards”. Other dignitaries who were present at the said meeting – a dinner hosted at the residence of suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on December 6 for former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri – too had rubbished Modi’s allegation and said that there was no discussion on the Gujarat polls at the event.

 Modi’s studied silence on the controversy had only agitated the Opposition members further and they protested, demanding an apology from the Prime Minister, when the Parliament’s winter session began on December 15. The uproar had led to a logjam that has already consumed six sittings of the curtailed winter session which only has 15 working days to transact its legislative business.

 On Wednesday, the Treasury Benches facing heat from the Opposition over another controversial remark – Union Skill Development Minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s claim of the BJP being elected to power “to change the Constitution” and his assertion that “secularists do not know their parentage” – were forced to go on the defensive.

 With the Opposition resolute in its demand for an apology from Modi for his comments against Dr Singh and for the resignation of Hegde from the Union council of ministers, the Centre finally gave in.

 Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs, Vijay Goel told the Rajya Sabha that his party and its government was “committed to uphold the Constitution” and that Hegde’s comments found no resonance in the saffron fold – a view later also reiterated by his senior minister Ananth Kumar in the Lok Sabha. Jaitley came to the Rajya Sabha when it reconvened – after multiple adjournments earlier in the day – at 2pm and tendered his ‘half-apology’ on behalf of Modi.

 “Prime Minister in his speeches didn’t question, nor meant to question the commitment to this nation of either former PM Manmohan Singh or former Vice President Hamid Ansari, any such perception is erroneous, we hold these leaders in high esteem, as well as their commitment to India,” Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha.

 That the thaw was now ending was evident in Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s response to Jaitley. “I thank the Leader of the House for (the) clarification on what has been an issue of contention. I, on behalf of my party, say that we disassociate from any comments made by any member during elections that may have hurt the PM’s dignity… also we don’t want any such thing to be said in the future,” Azad said.

 Azad’s mention of “disassociating” from comments made by Congress leaders against Modi during the Gujarat election campaign was a veiled reference to Mani Shankar Aiyar’s contentious jibe directed at the Prime Minister, who he had called a “neech kisam ka insaan” (low-level human). Aiyar’s comment had drawn an immediate rebuke from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who had asked him to apologise for the statement hours before the Congress suspended Aiyar from primary membership of the party. Aiyar’s comment, many believe, had cost the Congress dear in the Gujarat polls – which it lost narrowly to the BJP – after Modi chose to use it in his favour by alleging that the Congress veteran had mocked him for belonging to a “neech jaati” (low caste).

 With Jaitley issuing his half-apology and Azad accepting it, the stalemate seemed to have ended, at least in the Rajya Sabha. The Upper House then began debating the Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which was moved for consideration and passing.

 In the Lok Sabha, however, the stalemate continued longer with Congress-led Opposition parties demanding an apology from Hegde. The Lower House of Parliament, in which the BJP enjoys a brute majority, did manage to pass the crucial National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2017 amid din much to the chagrin of Opposition members who even criticised Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for condoning the practice of allowing the Treasury Benches to have key Bills passed without proper discussion and amid uproar.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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Assam BJP leader Bikash Dhar found dead, 5 arrested for murder

BJP leader Bikash Dhar, 52, was found dead in an abandoned house in Assam’s Sribhumi district after being reported missing on August 12. Police have arrested five people in connection with the alleged murder.

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2 days ago

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August 14, 2026

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A 52-year-old BJP leader who had been missing for two days was found dead in Assam’s Sribhumi district on Friday, with police alleging that he was murdered.

Bikash Dhar, a resident of Chagalmowa village under Bazaricherra police station, was found dead inside an abandoned house in the Yogicherra area near the Tripura border on Friday morning.

Dhar’s family had filed a missing complaint on August 12 after he left home following a phone call.

According to his son Madan Dhar, Bikash left around 1 pm after saying that he had to attend an emergency meeting. When he did not return and his phone was switched off, the family began searching for him and later approached the police.

Five arrested in murder case

Sribhumi Superintendent of Police Leena Doley said an investigation was launched after the missing complaint was received. The probe was conducted under the supervision of the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime).

Police said five people have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder. They were identified as Abdul Salam, Sifat Ali, Abdul Ahad, Saiful Ali and Badrul Haque.

According to the police, interrogation of Abdul Salam revealed that the accused had an enmity with Dhar. Police alleged that the group killed him and dumped his body near a water body.

Another person, identified as Sunam Miya, was named during the investigation and reportedly fled to Tripura on the night of the incident.

Police find injury and cut marks on body

Police said injury and cut marks were found on Dhar’s body, and a murder case has been registered.

During the recovery of the alleged weapon, police said accused Badrul Haque attempted to escape from custody. A police constable was injured during the incident.

Police said they fired at Haque’s leg to prevent him from escaping, resulting in a bullet wound.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dhar’s death and the alleged involvement of the accused is underway.

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Karnataka Cabinet clears public property bill amid RSS registration row

Karnataka Cabinet approves a Bill to regulate the use of government premises and public property amid a political row over RSS registration.

Published

2 days ago

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August 14, 2026

By

Priyank Kharge

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a proposed law to regulate the use of government premises and public property in the state, amid an ongoing political debate over the registration and use of public spaces by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026 was cleared by the Cabinet, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said after the meeting.

According to the government, the proposed legislation aims to establish a legal framework governing the use of government lands, buildings, playgrounds, parks, roads and other public assets by private individuals, organisations, associations and societies.

Kharge said the objective was to prevent unauthorised use and misuse of public property while ensuring that such assets are protected for public benefit.

What the Karnataka public property bill proposes

The proposed legislation is expected to lay down procedures for obtaining permission to use government property for events, meetings and other activities.

It also proposes provisions for penalties in cases involving misuse of government premises or damage to public property, according to officials.

The government is expected to introduce the Bill in the Karnataka legislature, where it will be taken up for discussion and passage.

Priyank Kharge denies Bill targets RSS

The proposed legislation comes against the backdrop of a row involving the RSS and its use of public property in Karnataka.

Kharge, however, rejected speculation that the Bill had been framed specifically against the RSS or any other organisation. He said the government did not have a particular institution, association, organisation, society, club, union, syndicate or NGO in mind.

The issue has been part of a wider political debate since 2025, with Kharge opposing the use of government premises and public property by the RSS and calling for the organisation to register formally.

In June, Kharge also wrote to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat seeking clarity on the organisation’s legal status, financial transparency and constitutional accountability.

The development is likely to keep the debate over the use of public property and the legal status of organisations in Karnataka in focus as the proposed legislation moves to the state legislature.

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