New Delhi: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stripped short of a majority on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extolled the virtues of consensus in a democracy and upholding constitutional values while taking aim at the opposition by saying that the country wants “debate and not drama”.
In his address, outside the new parliament building ahead of the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha, Modi said that while a majority is essential to run the country, a consensus is important to govern. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 240 seats on its own and has had to rely on its NDA allies to form the government.
“In the last 10 years, we have always tried to implement a tradition because we believe that a majority is required to run the government but to run the country a consensus is of utmost importance. So it will be our constant efforts to build consensus, take everyone along to serve Maa Bharti and fulfil the hopes and aspirations of 140 crore people. We want to take everyone along together, follow the constitutional principles and speed up decisions,” he said.
While the BJP and Modi came under attack for trampling on democratic rights and constitutional values during the election campaign, Modi said that as the country marks 50 years of the Emergency tomorrow, his government will ensure that constitutional directives are followed.
“Tomorrow is the 25th of June. For those who are committed to India’s democratic principles, 25th June marks 50 years of the blot that was put on the democracy of India. India’s new generation will never forget that the Constitution of India was completely rejected, every part of the Constitution was torn to pieces, the country was turned into a jail, democracy was completely suppressed. While protecting our Constitution, while protecting the democracy of India, the democratic traditions, the countrymen will take a resolution that no one will dare to do such a thing in India again which was done 50 years ago and a black blot was placed on democracy. We will take a resolution of a vibrant democracy. We will take a resolution to fulfil the dreams of the common people as per the directions of the Constitution of India.”
Protest outside the parliament. Photo: X/@INCIndia
Meanwhile, opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc held a protest, holding copies of the Constitution outside the parliament, in a bid to remind the BJP-led NDA government to uphold constitutional values.
“Narendra Modi is trying to break the Constitution and democratic values and norms. That is why today leaders of all parties are protesting together. We all want to tell Narendra Modi, you should act according to the Constitution,” said Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge.
प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी ने अपने customary शब्द आज ज़रुरत से ज़्यादा बोले। इसे कहते हैं, रस्सी जल गई, बल नहीं गया।
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Later as Modi took oath inside the Lok Sabha, opposition MPs once again held up copies of the Constitution.
“The attack that the PM and Amit Shah are launching on the Constitution is not acceptable to us, we will not let this happen. So, we held the Constitution while taking the oath…Our message is going across, no power can touch the Constitution of India,” said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
Opposition MPs raising the Constitution as Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes oath. Photo: Screengrab from video/@INCIndia
Modi in his address also took aim at the opposition and said that the country wants “substance and not slogans” and debate and not “drama” in the house.
“..A common man expects debate and vigilance in the House. People do not expect tantrums, drama and disturbances. People want substance, not slogans,” he said.
In the winter session of parliament an unprecedented 146 opposition MPs were suspended. In the absence of the opposition, the Modi government passed essential legislation including the three new criminal laws and the telecom bill.
Modi said that while the opposition had “disappointed” the country earlier, he hoped that this would not be so in the 18th Lok Sabha.
“The country needs a good opposition, a responsible opposition and I have full faith that the MPs who have won in this 18th Lok Sabha will try to fulfil these expectations of the common man,” he said.
The special session of parliament will continue till July 3 and will see parliamentarians take oath, as well as the president’s address on Wednesday.
