The first day of third tenure of Narendra Modi regime began with protests as Congress led INDIA Bloc MPs gathered in the Parliament complex on Monday a holding copies of the Constitution and raising slogans on "saving democracy".

Opposition leaders also hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "Emergency" remark on questioning his Government's style of functioning and saying that it needs to focus on present issues.

Top leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, his predecessor Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress' Sudip Bandyopadhyay, DMK's TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav among others assembled at the spot where the Gandhi statue once stood in the Parliament complex.

They raised slogans such as "long live Constitution", "we will save Constitution", "save our democracy".

Rahul Gandhi said they would not allow the Constitution to be "attacked" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.  "This attack is not acceptable to us and that is why we held the Constitution and took oath," he said.

"Our message is reaching the public and no power can touch the Constitution of India and we will protect it," Rahul added.

Congress general secretary and member of Ràjya Sabha KC Venugopal said the INDIA Bloc leaders entered the 18th Lok Sabha with Mahatma Gandhi's blessings.

The Gandhi statue, which was a popular protest site for MPs, was recently relocated along with 14 other statues that dotted the complex to a new spot named Prerna Sthal.

Several Opposition parties have claimed that the mandate of 2024 Lok Sabha elections was against the ruling BJP, even though it was able to form the government with support of other parties.

The INDIA Bloc has also claimed that the results show that the people have backed the opposition parties to "save the Constitution".

Reacting to the Emergency remarks, Congress said Modi had nothing new to offer in his remarks ahead of the start of the 18th Lok Sabha and "as usual resorted to diversion" and that he has forgotten that the last 10 years of "undeclared emergency" was ended by the people.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Modi made a longer than usual customary address "but clearly, even after the moral and political defeat, the arrogance remains". Kharge said the nation was hoping that Modi would say something on important issues.

Mahua Moitra of the TMC said the BJP fell short of a majority in the election because the people of the country have realised that it is against the Constitution.

From 303, the BJP is down to 240, they are running a minority government. They kept saying '400-paar' but could not even get a simple majority.

"I was not born during the first Emergency, but they (BJP) had been running an undeclared emergency for the last 10 years and the people of the country said it would not be allowed," the TMC leader added.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the Modi government should focus on the kind of Education Emergency the national is facing currently, her party colleague in Lok Sabha

Ani Desai said the Emergency period is long over and the government should focus on the present. Priyanka referred to the series of central government conducted entrance exams being canceled in the last fortnight.

RSP leader N K Premchandran also said that talking about the 1975 Emergency is "insignificant" at this juncture.

"It happened in 1975, 50 years have lapsed, it is totally irrelevant. We are talking about things that are happening at present. It is insignificant talking about the 1975 Emergency at this juncture," he added.

Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) MP Chandrashekhar said the prime minister should follow his own advice.

"It would have been good if what he was saying had reflected in his work. In this Parliament itself, over 140 MPs were suspended and laws were passed. Hope this government, which is not as popular, will respect the people's sentiments and not impose any law," he said.