New Delhi: On Tuesday, opposition members from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] accused the BJP of ignoring the suspension of constitutional rights in Manipur, criticising BJP MPs for failing to raise the issue during the ongoing debate on the Constitution.
During a discussion on the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India”, Sushmita Dev of the TMC called for the resignation of all BJP MPs from the Northeast, alleging that the government had suspended all constitutional rights in Manipur.
Dev said, “As we debate the Constitution today, I ask—what rights guaranteed by the Constitution are still upheld in Manipur? Everything, from liberty to freedom of speech, is being suppressed there.”
She demanded that MPs from the region step down, accusing them of complicity by staying silent.
Dev also slammed the ruling party for its handling of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, alleging it has created divisions among citizens.
She accused the BJP government of pushing an agenda for “one election, one leader, one religion,” contrary to the principles envisioned by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Dev described the government as “fascist.”
John Brittas of the CPI(M) joined the criticism, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take accountability for the situation in Manipur.
Brittas said the Prime Minister should fulfil the commitments he made in the Lok Sabha and visit the state.
He also claimed that public trust in various institutions, including the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Election Commission, Parliament, and the media, had been severely eroded, accusing the government of enforcing an “undeclared Emergency.”
Brittas voiced strong opposition to the One Nation, One Election proposal, calling it an extension of a single political ideology.
He also demanded that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be formed to investigate the alleged use of funds by Hungarian-American investor George Soros.
Dev continued her critique, accusing the government of favoring corporations while neglecting ordinary citizens.
She claimed that corporate loans were being written off, while farmers continue to face mounting debts.
She also said the middle class is bearing the heaviest tax burden, with corporate tax cuts benefiting big businesses under the current policies.
In defense, Ram Nath Thakur, JD(U) leader and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, countered the opposition’s allegations, asserting that the government is committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the Constitution.
He also congratulated Prime Minister Modi for conferring the Bharat Ratna on P.V. Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, and Karpoori Thakur, a former Bihar Chief Minister who championed backward empowerment.
Thakur questioned why the Congress had not taken similar actions during its time in power.
The debate in the Rajya Sabha reflects the ongoing tensions between the ruling and opposition parties over key constitutional issues and governance policies.
