Farmers Movement Archive

Congress, BJP leaders trade barbs on social media

NEW DELHI: A war of words erupted between BJP and Congress leaders on social media over the two farm bills passed by Parliament. BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav took on senior Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh, who said passage of the bills and the susoension of eight MPs was “murder of democracy”. “Eight MPs unilaterally suspended from Rajya Sabha without hearing them, without a vote on the suspension resolution and without giving the leader of opposition a chance to speak. Murder of democracy in India rolls on,” Ramesh tweeted. Yadav reacted to the Congress leader’s remarks and said, “Dear Jairam Rameshji, it will be better if MPs don’t jump into the well, heckle the chair, disrupt proceedings and create hooliganism in the House. Decency and decorum must be maintained in the House for democracy to thrive and flourish.” To this, Ramesh responded, “Of course, Bhupenderji. But then your leader must give up his 'my way or the highway' approach towards the opposition.” Continuing the conversation, Yadav said, “Dear Jairamji, my leader and my party have a tradition of following democratic principles. We were in the House and debating the bills, following the point of order set by the chair. Who started the hooliganism is for everyone to see.” Earlier, Anand Sharma had tweeted that democracy was shamed. “Deeply pained by developments in Rajya Sabha today as all rules and traditions of parliamentary democracy were pared by the ruling party. Deputy chairman Harivansh has disgraced his office by his unpardonable conduct,” he said. Yadav questioned the Congress leader, “You, Anandji, are a senior MP, well-versed with rules. How do you justify MPs sabotaging the chair’s mike, tearing the rule book and stopping Harivanshji from discharging his duty? Will politics override parliamentary procedures?” The BJP leader said division of vote was not possible when MPs sabotaged public property in the House and threw rule books at the chair. Opposition hooliganism in Parliament to grab eyeballs is the real threat to democracy,” Yadav said.

The Times of India

2020-09-22

India