Cong. protests against BJP member’s remark against Nehru, Rajiv

New Delhi, June 25 (PTI): Rajya Sabha witnessed strong protests by Congress Members on Tuesday after a BJP member targeted former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi over treatment meted out to B R Ambedkar and the anti- Sikh riots. Participating in the discussion on Motion of thanks to the President’s addres, G V L Narasimha Rao (BJP) alleged that Nehru “campaigned” against Ambedkar to ensure his defeat in Lok Sabha elections. He also alleged that Rajiv Gandhi had justified anti-Sikh riots following the assasination of Indira Gandhi. “It was Jawahar Lal Nehru, who aggressively campaigned against Dr B R Ambedkar and (got him) defeated in 1952 and 1954. In the two elections he was defeated and Congress did not allow him to win the election and he died an unhappy man,” said Rao On Rajiv Gandhi, the BJP member said the late Prime Minister “justified the killings of thousand sikhs on the street of Delhi (by saying) When a big tree fall, then earth shakes. Truth is hurtful”. After his remarks, senior Congress MPs trooped into the well demanding an apology from the BJP MP and started raising slogans. Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, were not pacified after the repeated assurances by Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh that he will expunge the remarks after examining the records. Congress MPs were also supported by members of the other Opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party, Trinmool Congress, though they did not join them in the well. Amid sloganeering, Anand Sharma of Congress said that convention and rules of the House mandates that no member can make any comment on persons who have occupied higher positions in which the post of the prime minister is also included. “If you want to do that, then you will have to inform by giving a notice,” said Sharma. Azad said that the ruling party would have to understand that they cannot run the government and perform the role of an opposition. The LOP said that Nehru played a vital role in building the nation and Rajiv Gandhi too had a role. BSP demands electoral reforms, ballot paper The Election Commission came under sharp criticsm from the BSP and TMC in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with its members demanding electoral reforms and future elections on ballot paper and not EVMs. The BJP, however, countered those opposing the EC saying raising questions on the poll body was like pointing fingers at the Constitution. BSP member Satish Chandra Misra accused the EC of allying with the NDA and said the ruling dispensation in the President’s speech has rightly thanked the EC. He alleged that the EC not only supported the BJP, but went to the extent of “merging itself” with the party by the time elections were over. “It is being said that earlier EC was extending support (to BJP) from outside, but by the time elections were held, it merged with the BJP. Earlier, we thought we are fighting the BJP, media, CBI and ED together, now EC has also been included in the list. But, people will question you,” he said while participating in the debate. TMC member Derek O’Brien also attacked the EC and demanded sweeping electoral reforms saying that there should be a collegium to appoint the election commissioner. He sought reintroduction of paper ballot. He called for state funding for the political parties to provide level playing field to all contestants during the elections. Misra said electroral reforms are very necessary and should be brought in early, as the ruling party - be it the Congress earlier and the BJP now - have misused the CBI and other agencies. “Elections should be held on ballot paper henceforth. If there was no wrongdoing in EVM functioning, how come the BJP loses whenever elections are held on ballot paper, but wins when EVMs are used,” he said asking what magic did BJP possess with itself. The BSP leader alleged that the manner in which this government was functioning, “democracy was being murdered” in the country under the BJP. He also alleged that attrocities on Dalits were continuing and they are working towards ending reservation in the country. Misra also accused the ruling party of selling out valuable assets of the country by “repaying” those who have funded them in elections. The two opposition leaders were countered by BJP member R K Shukla, who said “raising questions at the Election Commission was like pointing fingers at the constitutional institutions and the Constitution.