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Stop India's degeneration into a federation of numerous little fiefdoms
- Published on 10 December 2013
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Public expects PM to rise like a statesman or quit naresh minocha
- Published on 10 December 2013
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Sepoy's misstep - Despite Rahul Gandhi's airy assurances to tribals, NCST is the Centre's stepchild
- Published on 10 December 2013
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Decoding Modiji’s Forgotten Sermons on Kumbh
- Published on 11 April 2025
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(Culled image from Modiji's website)
“If people are not allowed to speak their mind out or criticise, the system of democracy will start to stink like a pool of stagnant water,” stated Mr. Narendra Modi on 15th July 2012. Mr. Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, said this while launching ‘Gujarat Guardian’ daily in Surat.
Modiji’s sermon has a direct relevance to the Mr Rahul Gandhi’s public outcry as the leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha. It is equally relevant to recent resentment in the Opposition benches against presiding persons of both houses and on denial of debate on several issues including the ones pertaining to Adani group.
On 26th March 2025, Mr. Gandhi claimed that he was not allowed to speak for days by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. LoP reportedly said: “I don’t know what is going on. I requested him to let me speak, but he just ran away. This is no way to run the House,” Gandhi said. “It is a convention that the Leader of Opposition is given time to speak. Whenever I stand up, I am stopped. I did nothing wrong—I was sitting quietly. Here, there is no place for democracy. There is only place for the government.”
Mr. Birla, on the other hand, has responded to this charge by stating: “I expect the Leader of Opposition to follow the rules”.
On 18th March too, Mr. Gandhi bemoaned that he was denied chance to speak after Mr. Modi's statement on Maha Kumbh’s success. He was quoted in the mainstream media as saying that: “Our only complaint is that the PM did not give Shraddhanjali (pay homage) to those who lost their lives in Kumbh. The youth, who went to the Maha Kumbh, also wants one more thing from the PM, which is employment… As per the democratic structure, the LoP should get an opportunity to speak, but they won’t let us. This is new India.”
Addressing the Lok Sabha on successful conclusion of Maha Kumbh, Mr. Modi said: “In the Maha Kumbh, all differences faded away; this is India's great strength, showing that the spirit of unity is deeply rooted within us.”
Unfortunately, this spirit couldn’t permeate to Lok Sabha, which draws its strength from Maha Kumbh of democracy, the general elections.
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