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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday set the tone for a stormy winter session of parliament beginning on November 26, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not interested in parliament and does not respond to questions raised by the Opposition.
After forcing near washout of the monsoon session, the main Opposition party has already signalled that it will corner the NDA government on the issues of ‘rising intolerance’ in parliament. On the GST bill, the Congress has indicated that it is not opposed to the legislation provided its objections are addressed.
“Our Prime Minister does not take interest in parliament. He doesn’t respond to questions raised by the Opposition. And in contrast, Nehruji as PM would listen to Atal Bihari Vajpayee in parliament. That was because Nehruji respected the Opposition’s opinion and understanding on issues,” he said, addressing a function to mark the culmination of the party’s year-long celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister.
He also held the RSS responsible for alleged growing intolerance in the country. “They want everyone to sing in one tune. They want a picture to be painted in just one colour which is not possible because of the nature of our country,” he said.
Gandhi also complimented Congress workers for the victory in assembly elections in Bihar. “You in alliance with Nitish and Lalu gave a massive jolt to the ideology of BJP and RSS. We are going to do the same elsewhere,” he said.
For his part, an unusually aggressive former prime minister Manmohan Singh launched a stinging attack on Modi. “Hamare pradhan mantri vikas ki baat karte hain. Jahan jaate hain vikas ke naam par apni dukani chamkaane ki baat karte hain (Our Prime Minister talks of development wherever he goes. In the name of development, he actually promotes his shop),” Singh said amid loud cheers from the crowd.
The event saw launch of the website celebratingnehru.org, in Hindi and English, besides a commemorative volume on Nehru.
Earlier, hundreds of Seva Dal volunteers took out a march from India Gate to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.