The Opposition on Tuesday attacked the NDA Government in the Rajya Sabha over the issue of rising communalism in the country and charged the ruling dispensation with following the policy of divide and rule. Rising unemployment and economic crisis also figured in the criticism during the debate on motion of thanks to the President's address.
The debate, which started on Monday saw senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh leading the Opposition charge on Tuesday over alleged religious divide. "You have injected venom of communalism into the people of this country. Slogans of Jai Shree Ram and Allah Ho Akbar are being raised in Parliament. This is not the tradition of Parliament," Digvijay stated.
Talking about economy, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief minister said, "Economy is in shambles. You want the economy to grow to USD 5 trillion by 2024. But that requires economic growth of 20.1 per cent every year. You fudged the statistics and two senior officials resigned."
The issue of lynching too figured prominently with NCP member Majeed Memon attacking the government for increase in such incidents. He sought to know how the Muslim youth could be living in constant fear trust and whether the 21 crore Muslims were getting the right to life under the constitution.
"With all humility and respect I am asking from the Prime Minister" how can the government win the trust of Muslim youth when Tabrez was mercilessly beaten and forced to say 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman. He said it was a shame that the youth died despite the Constitution promising that every citizen of India is entitled to right to life which has been reinforced by the Supreme Court. "Mob lynching case is the worst kind of crime in a civil society ", he said.
D Raja of the CPI claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not uttered a word on the deaths in his home-state so far. Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to President's Address, Raja accused the BJP of trying to impose a monolithic, illiberal and socio political order in the country.
Raja claimed that Dalits and minorities were being targeted in the name of majoritarianism and that the attacks on the two communities have increased manifold. He also said the government was spending crores on the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan (cleanliness campaign) but not doing anything for Safai Karamcharis.
"Seven people were killed in Gujarat while cleaning a sewer, that is our Prime Minister's state, what a shame the Prime Minister he has not uttered a word so far," Raja said. Seven persons, including four sanitation workers, died earlier this month after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning sewer of a hotel in Vadodara district of Gujarat.
Besides, Raja sought to know the mandate given to Niti Aayog and claimed the government think tank was proposing that PSUs be handed over to the private sector.
PL Punia of the Congress said he did not find any reference to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the President's Address. He batted for reservation in jobs in the private sector saying public sector has limited opportunities. He suggested that Indian Judicial Services be set up.
Trinamool Congress member Derek O'Brien on his part attacked the social media firms, alleging they favoured the BJP led NDA during the election campaign for the recent Lok Sabha polls. Speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, he also blamed the social media platform for providing a major share of advertisement for BJP.
On the relevance of media he said, "These days with media in hand, it is easy to manufacture great men. Dr BR Ambedkar said this. He saw this problem coming long years ago. "We appeal to media owners that you have role to play to save democracy. We appeal to the journalists to bring back the days of Editors, the 60's 70's".
He also demanded sweeping electoral reforms saying that there should be a collegium to appoint the election commissioner. He sought reintroduction of paper ballot. He called for state funding for the political parties to provide level playing field to all contestants during the elections.