'Shameful': PM Modi accuses Congress of disrespecting President, Constitution

PM Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of showing disrespect to the President of India by repeatedly disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha during the debate on her address. He said the conduct not only derailed parliamentary business but also amounted to an insult to the Constitution.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, Modi said he was unable to respond to the debate in the Lok Sabha because of the sustained uproar by Opposition members. Describing the developments as deeply distressing, he said such behaviour had no place in Parliament.

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Referring to the disruptions, the Prime Minister said the failure to hold a discussion on the President’s Address was an affront to the country’s highest constitutional office.

“"Congress insulted the President. It's shameful...Yesterday in the Lok Sabha, a discussion could not be held on the President's address. It is an insult to the office of the President. Such people do not have the right to speak about the Constitution,” he said.

‘An insult to the office of the President’

PM Modi also alleged that the Congress had repeatedly disrespected tribals, Dalits, women and people from the Northeast. He pointed to an incident in the Lok Sabha where papers were allegedly thrown when an MP from Assam was presiding over the House.

“We can understand political frustration, but this happened in the temple of democracy. Is this not an insult to the Northeast and to Assam?” he asked.

The Prime Minister was referring to Dilip Saikia, a BJP MP from Assam, and Krishna Prasad Tenneti, a TDP MP from Andhra Pradesh, both members of the Lok Sabha’s panel of chairpersons. He said similar conduct was witnessed earlier when Tenneti, whom he described as coming from a Dalit family, was in the Chair.

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“They are performing their duty, yet are insulted because of their background,” the BJP supremo said.

He also accused the Congress of disregarding cultural icons from the Northeast, citing past objections to the Bharat Ratna being awarded to Assamese singer, composer and filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika. “It was our good fortune to honour him, yet objections were raised even then,” he said.

The prime minister said political differences could not justify actions that undermine parliamentary dignity and constitutional institutions, particularly within Parliament, which he described as the foundation of democratic debate.