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Value Oppn role, says PM as session begins

NEW DELHI:Reaching out to the Opposition before the House session began today, PM Narendra Modi said a “strong and active Opposition is the sine qua non of healthy democracy”.

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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 17

Reaching out to the Opposition before the House session began today, PM Narendra Modi said a “strong and active Opposition is the sine qua non of healthy democracy”. He urged the Opposition leaders to cast away their concerns about numbers. “Every word the Opposition says, every sentiment the Opposition expresses is valuable for us... I hope we can work neutrally for national good.” 

He later attended the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha that began with the swearing-in ceremony amid chants of “Bharat Mata ki jai”, “Modi-Modi” and “Vande Mataram” by BJP members. The PM was the first to take oath and was followed by a three-member panel approved to preside over the oath-taking event that concludes tomorrow.

Among those on the panel,  Congress’ senior-most MP 

K Suresh from Kerala was applauded for taking oath in Hindi while BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab stuck to Oriya. Ministers came next with SAD’s Harsimrat Badal the first woman MP to take oath, in Punjabi. Minister Smriti Irani, who trounced the Congress chief in Amethi, got a thunderous applause.

With the MPs being sworn-in  state-wise in the alphabetical order, Punjab’s turn will come tomorrow.

Rahul Gandhi, who returned from  London, took oath for the fourth time,  representing Kerala’s Wayanad for the first time. As he finished the oath in English, he sprinted back, forgetting to sign the members’ register, inviting taunts. The majority of MPs chose Hindi and regional languages. Among those who opted for Sanskrit was the controversial Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur, who riled the Congress as she invoked her spiritual guru Swami Poorna Chetnanand Avdheshanand Giri while taking the oath. UPA chief Sonia Gandhi was seen gesturing in disapproval while Kerala Congress members termed the move anti-Constitutional. Despite being admonished by Pro Tem Speaker Virendra Kumar to swear either in the name of God or the Constitution, Thakur retorted unapologetically, “Ishwar kaa naam bhi nahi lene doge? I am using the name I have given in official record.”

As the chair assured to review Thakur’s election certificate, she wound up the oath with “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, further provoking the Congress. House atmosphere was not the same after Pragya Thakur finished as BJP MPs kept chanting “Bharat Mata ki jai” slogan after each affirmation, literally as a mark of taunts to the Congress. A visibly upset Sonia Gandhi looked at the Chair asking “what’s this?” and was told, “But MPs are not raising the slogan anymore.”  Health Minister Harsh Vardhan was the first MP to take oath in Sanskrit. Among others who spoke in Sanskrit were BJP MPs from Haryana Sunita Duggal and Arvind Sharma and from Delhi Meenakshi Lekhi and Ramesh Bidhuri. 

Oath taking of newly elected MPs began state wise in the alphabetical order today. Odisha was the last state whose MPs took oath today. Punjab’s turn is tomorrow.

Forgetful Rahul invites taunt

  • Cong chief Rahul Gandhi took oath but forgot to sign members’ register until called back, inviting taunts
  • Smriti Irani drew thunderous applause; SAD MP Harsimrat Badal first woman minister and MP to take oath

Prime Minister reaches out

I hope all parties will raise the bar for debates and aid people-friendly decisions. Narendra Modi, prime minister

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