Opposition demands Censure motion against Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti

NEW DELHI: Nine Opposition parties who have a combined majority in the Rajya Sabha have told the Modi government in a joint statement that it must permit a House resolution censuring minister Niranjan Jyoti for her derogative remarks or face the prospect of the winter session being washed out because of their protests.

The Opposition parties also said the government had rejected the truce proposal on Thursday and, therefore, the resumption of the House depended entirely on the ruling side reversing its decision and accepting their demand which was ‘reasonable’ since the resolution was not asking for the minister’s sacking or naming her personally.

The future to many key reform bills slated to be passed in the session would depend on the government’s response. “We once again appeal to the government to accept a joint resolution condemning the attempts to outrage our Constitution by making inflammatory speeches aimed at dividing the syncretic, sociocultural mosaic of our country’s rich diversity,” a joint statement signed by floor leaders of Congress, SP, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), BSP, CPM, DMK, NCP and CPI said.

AIADMK and BJD did not join the group. The two parties don’t walk out with other Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha either, signally tactical support to the ruling side.