New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday blamed the prolonged disruption of Parliament on the alleged refusal of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to respond to opposition questions over police action against students and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the alleged “chanda chori” controversy, PTI reported.
The party claimed that proceedings in both Houses had not been conducted normally for 15 successive days because Shah had avoided making a statement on the alleged police “brutality” during protests, while Modi had not addressed allegations concerning the Ram temple trust.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh made the allegations in a post on X, where he accused the prime minister and home minister of projecting themselves as a “boastful duo full of bluff and bluster” but being exposed as “cowardly”.
“Parliament has not functioned normally for 15 consecutive days for one and only one reason: The Union Home Minister has refused to come to both Houses and give a statement on police brutalities on protesting youth and students, especially on July 20,” Ramesh said in his post.
The CJP’s “Sansad Chalo” march to Parliament on July 20 had descended into violence after clashes erupted between police personnel and protesting students.
Ramesh alleged that Shah had been spending extended periods in his chamber but had not appeared before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha to respond to MPs’ questions about the Delhi Police’s conduct during demonstrations over the NEET paper leak in the national capital.
He said the police action came under the direct responsibility and control of the home minister.
“His continued absence is unprecedented,” he said.
With only four working days remaining in the session, Ramesh said Shah should first explain the alleged police excesses against the protesters. He also demanded that Modi respond to allegations involving the trust associated with the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“Parliament has another four days in this session. The Union Home Minister must first speak on police excesses. The Prime Minister must speak on the ‘Chanda Chori Aastha Dhoka’ by the very Trust whose creation he had so grandly announced on the floor of the Lok Sabha on February 5, 2020. His hand-picked Trust has betrayed the trust and faith of all Indians, and he cannot remain silent on it,” the Congress leader said.
The opposition party has been raising both issues since the Monsoon Session commenced on July 20. Congress and other opposition parties have repeatedly forced adjournments in the two Houses while seeking an explanation from Shah over the alleged police action against students and pressing their allegations regarding the theft of donations linked to the Ram temple trust.
