NEW DELHI: Indian democracy took a deep breath and asserted itself through a united Opposition that launched a major onslaught on the Modi government in an attempt to make it accountable for the communal campaign gathering momentum across the country, and the election promises that remain unfulfilled.

The protest inside Parliament through the winter session being turned into a mass rally where the enthusiasm of the thousands burst into anti-Modi and anti-government slogans as leaders of different political parties came together in a massive show of unity. The government was not able to introduce the controversial Insurance Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha that had been functioning quietly, erupted in anger with Opposition members storming the well and forcing repeated adjournments over the issue of black money and communalism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi came under direct attack for not making a statement against conversions inside the Rajya Sabha even as Samajwadi party’s Mulayam Singh and Janata Dal(U)’s lampooned him at Jantar Mantar for not fulfilling a single promise he had made during the election campaign. The House was adjourned repeatedly.

The Opposition, in direct reference to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement declaring India as a Hindu Rashtra and supporting the ongoing conversions, accused the government of following an “unacceptable agenda.” Opposition leaders continued to demand a statement from the Prime Minister saying he should assure the House that action will be taken for all those violating the law and the Constitution with their vitriolic promises.

"You don't need a 56-inch chest to come here, you just need a four-inch heart to come here," said Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien. This quip had its genesis in the PM’s campaign line that India needed a leader like him with a big, 56 inch, chest. The Left parties submitted a resolution against Bhagwat’s vitriolic and highly communal speech, with the entire Opposition united in condemning this and demanding an explanation from PM Modi who did not attend the Rajya Sabha. In fact for a brief appearance he has kept away from the Upper House.

At the public rally the Opposition leaders lampooned the Prime Minister, and his government for double crossing the people of India. JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar played a tape of the election promises by the BJP with the highly enthusiastic crowd virtually going wild in support for the Opposition. Slogans and flags were raised despite the bitter cold in Delhi, as the leaders reminded the people of the promises made during the election campaign, particularly that of bringing back black money.

Erstwhile Janata Dal leaders Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Mulayam Singh Yadav who are working out the modalities for merging into a "Samajwadi Janata Dal" hit out hard at the PM and his government. "They keep saying tweet-tweet these days...I told my son Tejaswi to 'tweet' to Ramdev and ask about his promises on black money," Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Yadav said.

"We are waiting for black money to come back. We can wait a few more months. If you can't manage to bring it back by plane, we can arrange camels," he said amidst laughter.

Nitish Kumar replayed PM Modi's campaign speeches to remind the people of the election promises made and not kept. "He said if we got back the black money, each poor person would have up to 20 lakhs. Now he says he has no idea how much black money there is," Kumar said. He said that all concerned opposition parties will have to make a pledge for a “strong alternative to the BJP.”

PM Modi has been under fire for not reining in the rightwing groups for the continuous threats against the minorities, starting with Love Jihad and moving into Ghar Wapsi. The Opposition has made it clear that it will allow the Rajya Sabha where it still has the numbers to be effective, to run if the Prime Minister assures Parliament that action will be taken against all those making such statements. The government response has only been to reiterate the RSS proposal for supporting an anti-conversion legislation, that has been rejected by all the opposition parties.

The Opposition leaders, all made it clear that the communal agenda was being driven to divert the people’s attention from the real issues. And to blur the fact that not a single election promise had been fulfilled by the Modi government. For the first time after the elections, PM Modi’s performance was discussed threadbare on the streets by senior Opposition leaders. Lalu Yadav repeatedly mocked PM Modi's catch phrase "Acche Din (good times)" with all accusing the NDA government “of trying to divide the nation on religion.”

In the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day the Left parties gave a notice for suspension of business in Rajya Sabha over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement.Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal also said he had submitted a notice to suspend all work and take up the debate.Finance minister Arun Jaitley said, "Motion for discussion is inadmissible as the issue (conversions) has been raised already."

Angry opposition leaders slammed the government for not fulfilling its promises but instead resorting to divisiveness and hate filled campaigns like the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ program. BSP chief Mayawati also hit out at Mohan Bhagwat saying, "I strongly condemn his comment, his statement his highly objectionable, and against the Constitution of our country."

The Opposition offensive brought to Delhi through the rally is expected to crystalise with the formation of one party as has been reported in The Citizen, with the Jantar Mantar public meeting was a clarion call ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar next year, and Uttar Pradesh in 2016.

Predictably, some television channels almost immediately started denouncing the Opposition initiative as a demonstration of “ego’s” with a particularly vocal anchor immediately deciding to host his prime time talk show on this. According to the channels the Bills were more important than the ghar wapsi program that is spreading terror and fear across the states of India. There was not a word about the highly divisive speech of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the threats being issued to the minorities by VHP leaders.

Latest News

THE CITIZEN BUREAU