One couldn’t expect a more ‘confrontational’ start to the 18th Lok Sabha than one witnessed on Monday (July 1), when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in a nearly two-hour long address, forced the Prime Minister and his senior cabinet colleagues to intervene and refer to the parliamentary rulebook in an apparent effort to cut short a speech that in many ways defined a ‘resurgent’ and ‘unrelenting’ opposition.
Beyond Rahul Gandhi’s politically charged ‘Hindu’ remark, the Gandhi scion’s and, by extension, the opposition’s strategy was made abundantly clear. Gandhi's combative approach forced the Treasury Bench to vociferously counter and seek validation of the claims made by him in Parliament on Monday.
When mandate 2024 gave Rahul the added ‘ammo’
In many ways, the outcome of the recently held parliamentary polls has emboldened the Opposition to perform its role with greater vigour and authority. The opposition with its tally of 232 seats has doubled its strength from the last election. TMC leader Mahua Moitra’s speech on Monday, perhaps summed up the renewed confidence within the opposition ranks. “I lost my membership, I lost my house, I also lost my uterus in an operation. But you know what I gained? I gained the freedom from fear. I don’t fear you. I will see the end of you [BJP]," Moitra said. The same confidence reflected in Rahul’s address, as he was buoyed by his fellow members of INDIA bloc.
What emboldened Rahul to deliver such a fiery speech?
Perhaps, the events in the first few days of the ongoing Parliament session set the tone for the more substantive sessions starting July 1. After the completion of the election of the Speaker to the 18th Lok Sabha, the government made repeated reference to the ‘Emergency days’, drawing widespread condemnation of the period from the treasury bench.
Both the Speaker in his inaugural address on Wednesday (June 26) and the President in her customary joint address at the start of a new Parliament on Thursday (June 27) categorically mentioned how India’s democracy and constitutional principles came to a standstill on June 25, 1975. The opposition, on both occasions flayed the “political” speeches by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and President Droupadi Murmu.
On closer analysis, Rahul’s speech on Monday aimed to shift the ‘Emergency narrative’ and focus on the more ‘pressing’ issues plaguing the country. He began his speech by claiming a "full-scale and systematic assault on the idea of India... the Constitution... and on people who resisted the attack on the Constitution". The opening lines, in fact, served as a barometer of things to come. His constant reference to religious figures and saying that “those who claim to be Hindus are not living up to Hindu ideals and are engaging in violence” attracted severe condemnation from the treasury bench.
Senior ministers of the Modi government stood up and objected to his speech and the constant pictorial reference of religious heads by resorting to specific provisions of the parliamentary rulebook. But, what was more compelling was the way Rahul warded off these attempts to cut short his speech.
When Rahul raised ‘pressing’ issues
Apart from his reference to Hinduism and why some people should not claim to be Hindus as they don’t follow the basic tenets of the practice, the Leader of Opposition highlighted the exams mess, condemned attacks on the Constitution and criticised the govt's handling of Manipur and the farmers' protests. He sought to emphasise on the ongoing turmoil in Manipur and what he called the government's apparent apathy towards it. Rahul dubbed the Agniveer scheme of temporary recruitments into the army as "use and throw" labour. He likened its arbitrary implementation to demonetisation.
Presenting a ‘united’ avatar
Amid all the issues he raised, Rahul on Monday, perhaps more than any other occasion delivered a hard-hitting message. A message of a united opposition willing to take on the ruling dispensation with all its might. "I realised after becoming the LoP that my personal dreams, aspirations have to be put aside. It's my job to represent all the opposition parties equally. When Hemant Soren or Arvind Kejriwal is in jail it should disturb me," said the Congress scion.
The messaging was loud and clear—Rahul as LoP was willing to be more flexible and accommodative in leading the INDIA grouping. This is particularly significant against the backdrop of minor niggles between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress on certain issues, witnessed as recently as last week over INDIA bloc’s consensus pick for the post of Speaker. However, the TMC later issued a clarification saying that it supports the nominee.
However, all eyes will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address slated later this evening. The Prime Minister in his characteristic style will leave no stone unturned to present a point-by-point rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi’s stinging remarks.
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