GUWAHATI: Congress MP from Assam’s Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi has expressed strong criticism over the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mehtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha, labelling it a “loss for the Dalit community”.
Speaking to the press outside Parliament on Monday, Gogoi lamented the missed opportunity for Dalits to witness one of their own administering the oath to all 543 MPs.
“Today was an opportunity for the Dalit community to see a Dalit pro-tem Speaker administer oath to 543 MPs of all religions and castes. The BJP denied the Dalit community a historic opportunity,” he remarked.
Accusing the NDA government of neglecting crucial issues since the beginning, Gogoi criticised the appointment of Mehtab as a violation of parliamentary norms.
“From Day 1, they have neglected burning issues such as Manipur, unemployment, heatwaves, and exam controversies. Inside the Parliament, they are not upholding traditional parliamentary practices. It is a sad day,” he added.
The Congress and INDIA Bloc parties have expressed disappointment over the breaking of tradition, as Mehtab, instead of the senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress, was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker.
This move by the BJP has sparked sharp reactions from the opposition, highlighting a departure from established practices.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commences today with the oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The session is expected to be contentious, with the opposition intending to challenge the BJP-led NDA government on various fronts.
Issues likely to dominate include the election of the Speaker on June 26, allegations of paper leaks in NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, and the controversy surrounding the appointment of the pro-tem Speaker.
As things heat up between the ruling and opposition parties, the parliamentary session is anticipated to set a confrontational tone, marking the beginning of intense debates and legislative actions in the 18th Lok Sabha.
