‘Disruption of Parliament sad’
Modi unveils statue of former Kerala chief minister R Sankar, but family keeps away from function
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at the Congress and other Opposition parties for the frequent disruption of Parliament, saying the party which lost power two years ago is yet to come to terms with it.
“Some parties have decided that since they tasted defeat they will not allow others to work. It doesn’t matter what will happen to the nation. They are making a mockery of the system,” Modi said in a direct reference to the Congress on the continueddisruptionof Parliament over the National Herald case and other issues.
Modi was addressing a gathering after unveiling the statue of former chief minister of Kerala R Sankar in Kollam. He said Congress MPS did not follow the 3D prescription of President Pranab Mukherjee – debate, dissent and discuss – for the smooth functioning of Parliament. Instead, he said, they were following another 3D formula – disrupt, destruct and demolish.
The PM’S remarks came at a time when the winter session of Parliament was on the verge of a complete washout. The session will end on December 23, with the fate of the crucial goods and services tax (GST) bill hanging in the balance.
Interestingly, Sankar’s family members kept away from the PM’S function. Much to the embarrassment of the BJP, Sankar’s daughter attended a parallel prayer meeting organised by the Congress in state capital Thiruvananthpuram.
A controversy had erupted three days ago after Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy said he was asked to keep away from the statue unveiling ceremony by the SNDP (Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam) -- an organisation representing the Ezhava community. The issue figured in both Houses of Parliament on Monday and the government denied any role in the invitation fiasco.
As both the Congress and the SNDP engaged in a fierce debate over the former CM’S legacy, the PM whipped up another controversy saying the late leader was very close to Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee. He said Sankar along with NSS (Nair Service Society) founder Mannath Padmanabhan had floated a ‘Hindu Mandalam’ and invited Mukherjee for its function. Later, Mukherjee had invited Sankar to an all-india conclave of the Jan Sangh in Kanpur.
The Congress ridiculed the PM’S contention. “At this rate, one day they will make Mahatma Gandhi an RSS worker,” said PCC chief VM Sudheeran.
Family members of Sankar said they were really pained over the controversy. “Any attempts to move Sankar to the saffron camp will not be allowed. That is an insult. He was cent-percent a Gandhian till his last breath,” said his son Mohan Sankar. He was also upset with a write-up in the BJP mouthpiece ‘Janmabhoomi’, which according to him tried to portray the late Congress leader as an RSS sympathiser.