Day 5: Parliament Sees a Vibrant Debate
The Agrarian Crisis: The day started with focus on the farmer crisis. Union Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh said the government is trying to do as much as possible for farmers.
Caste System: Ramdas Athawale of the Republic Party of India said the caste system was established only for administrative purposes but it’s the addition of a number of castes that has made it a more serious problem.
Cold-blooded Murders: NCP leader Supriya Sule and BJP leader Kirron Kher went back and forth discussing intolerance and whether it’s limited to fringe elements. Sule pointed out Sanathan Sanstha’s agenda of targeting modernist but Kher emphasised that such incidents have taken place even in the past. Sule agreed, but added that those elements are now part of the Maharashtra government, hinting at the Shiv Sena.
Rahul Targets Modi’s Silence: Rahul gave a passionate speech in the Lok Sabha, slamming Modi for silence over the Dadri lynching, the FTII protests and the killing of Dalit children in Faridabad. He added that while Modi remains silent, the finance minister merely says it is all “manufactured”.
Modi’s Speech on the Constitution: In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi spoke to a calmer audience. He said it was time to stop the tu, tu, main, main and work together. He added the “Constitution is not just a guide in terms of legality but a guide to our society too”.
Rajnath Defends Govt: In the lower house of Parliament, amid multiple disruptions, Rajnath Singh said the partition, the emergency and atrocities against Sikhs were the real instances of intolerance in the country. He added the government is intolerant but towards corruption, poverty and an unclean country.
Mulayam Singh is not ready to let go of comments on Dadri lynching or Badaun.
Mulayam says, “The statements or clarifications about Badaun were made by the CBI. It was your CBI probe, not our state police”.
Rajnath responds that probe in both cases will proceed without any biases.
The House adjourns till tomorrow.
In his concluding remarks, Rajnath Singh appeals to all those who returned their awards to take them back and guide the government.
Yes we are Intolerant: Rajnath
Rajnath Singh quotes Sant Kabir and Ustad Bismillah Khan. He says, “We have followed Kabir and Ustad said that given the choice, he would die in Varanasi. When these are our people, how can we be labelled intolerant?”
Rajnath takes the opposition by surprise. He says, “It’s true that intolerance has risen under NDA leadership”.
And then he explains,
“We are intolerant towards corruption, poverty and an unclean country.”
Rajnath’s comment on Dadri lynching incident gets Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav speaking.
Rajnath tells Mulayam that the Centre is ready to order a CBI probe into the matter if necessary.