NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha will resume its discussion on the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa's Assembly Constituencies on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. This debate was initiated during the conclusion of the session on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
On Tuesday, two bills aimed at implementing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The introduction followed a heated debate where Opposition members argued that the legislation was "anti-federal" and violated the Constitution's Basic Structure.
The bills were supported by 269 members, while 198 members opposed them. Notably, this marked the first use of the electronic voting system in the Lok Sabha within the new Parliament House.
The ongoing Winter Session of Parliament in 2024 has witnessed intense debates, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech on Constitution Day drawing significant attention. In his address in the Rajya Sabha, Shah praised the Constitution for shaping India’s democratic foundations over the past 75 years. He said, 'This debate, On one hand, will make people realise how the country moved forward because of the Constitution. On the other hand, it also makes us realise that it is because of the basic sentiments of the Constitution that the foundations of democracy have been deepened in the last 75 years'.
However, his remarks quickly became the focal point of a protest by opposition MPs, particularly over accusations that Shah had insulted Dr. B R Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. The opposition, led by Congress, strongly criticized the Home Minister for what they described as derogatory comments about Ambedkar.
Opposition Protests in Parliament
Following Shah's speech, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh sharply reacted, saying, “Yesterday, it became clear who insults whom. The Home Minister insulted Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He went on to accuse the ruling BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, of repeatedly insulting Dr. Ambedkar while blaming Congress for their actions.
Ramesh claimed that the BJP’s speech had more to do with attacking the Congress Party rather than addressing the Constitution or the pressing issues of the day.
Opposition's Attack and Spread of Fake News
A portion of Amit Shah's speech was shared by the Congress on social media, with the party captioning it: "'Now it has become a fashion - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... If you take so many names of God, you will get heaven for seven lives.' Amit Shah has made a highly objectionable remark."
Congress accused the BJP and RSS of harboring hatred toward Ambedkar and claimed that the ancestors of BJP leaders used to burn effigies of Ambedkar. The party also alleged that the BJP and RSS were attempting to alter the Constitution. Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, Supriya Shrinet, and several others, shared the incomplete clip and criticized Amit Shah. The Congress demanded that Amit Shah apologize to the nation.
Congress MP Imran Masood's Response
In a similar vein, Congress MP Imran Masood expressed his disappointment with Shah's speech, calling it “objectionable.” He quoted Shah’s statement that had reportedly mocked the Congress for mentioning Ambedkar's name more than God's, saying, “If they had taken the name of Gods many times as they had taken Ambedkar's name, they would have got a place in heaven.”
AAP and Congress Focus on Other Key Issues
Aside from the debate over Shah's remarks, Parliament was also abuzz with discussions on other matters. AAP MP Malwinder Singh Kang raised an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, calling for a discussion on farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 22 days, highlighting issues related to the farming community.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs have scheduled a meeting today at the Congress Parliamentary Party office to strategize their approach for raising the Ambedkar issue in Parliament. They are
preparing to take the matter further, seeking to address the remarks made by Shah on the floor of the House.
As the Winter Session continues, the political drama in Parliament shows no signs of slowing down, with key issues like the treatment of Dr. Ambedkar's legacy, farmers' struggles, and wage disparities set to dominate the discussions in the coming days.