Oppn Being Weakened Through ED And CBI: Kharge's Jibe At Centre During Special Parliament Session

Parliament Special Session: Mallikarjun Kharge says Pt Nehru laid the foundation for democracy in India. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also highlighted the achievements under Nehru's regime.

Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that former Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru laid the foundation for India, adding that no one can see the stones used in the foundation. He said that Nehru believed that the absence of a strong Opposition meant significant drawbacks to the system. He alleged that the government is focused on weakening the strong opposition through ED and CBI.

"Nehru ji believe that the absence of a strong Opposition means that there are significant drawbacks in the system. If there is no strong Opposition, it is not right. Now, that there is a strong Opposition, focus is on weakening it through ED, CBI..." he said.

"Take them (into their own party), put them in a washing machine and when they come out all clean - make them permanent (in one's own party). You can see what is happening today. PM comes to the Parliament rarely and when he does he leaves after making it an event..." Kharge further said.

The Congress chief also shared a light moment with Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. During his speech, Kharge asked on of the members where he was going in a hurry. To this, the Chair said that this is against the rule as well.

On the reference to rule, Kharge jokingly said that many rules are broken in the House but since Dhankhar has a 'big heart', he manages it all. Kharge added that's why he was asking the Chair to revoke the suspension of AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha.

Nehru Architect Of Modern India, Says Adhir Ranjan In Lok Sabha

In the Lok Sabha, LoP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury remembered the contributions of Pt. Nehru and called him the 'architect of modern India'. He said that Nehru backed the parliamentary virtues and that Speakers would ring the bell whenever the PM exceeded his time limit in the House.

"Architect of modern India - Nehru - had said that parliamentary democracy demands many virtues which are ability, certain devotion to work, and also a large measure of corporation of self discipline and restraint," Chowdhury said.

"Though he (Pandit Nehru) enjoyed a massive majority in the Parliament, he was tireless in listening to the voice of the Opposition and never mocked or deflected when answering questions...Even the Speaker bell would ring for Jawaharlal Nehru when he exceeded his time limit while making speeches in the Parliament, this shows that no one is beyond Parliament's derogative, that was Nehru's contribution to the development of Parliamentary democracy in India," he said.

On the mention of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Chowdhury noted that the Atomic Research Committee was formed under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946.

"From there, we moved forward and developed ISRO in 1964. But today what will we call ISRO, if not the Indian Space Research Organisation then what? From where has this Bharat, India issue been raised?..." he said.

Bidding farewell to the old building, he said, "...It is really an emotional moment for all of us to move out from this (old) Parliament building today. We are all present here to bid adieu to our old building..."