- 3 hours ago
A political firestorm erupts ahead of the winter session of Parliament after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accuses the opposition of engaging in 'drama'. On this special report, Congress National Spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohammed hits back, calling the Prime Minister the 'drama king at the end of the day'. The debate, featuring BJP National Spokesperson Dr. Syed Zafar Islam, centres on the opposition's demand for discussions on the controversial SIR process, the deaths of over 40 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), severe air pollution in Delhi, and a recent terror attack at the Red Fort. While the BJP maintains it is open to all discussions and accuses the opposition of disrupting Parliament for cameras, the opposition argues it is the government's duty to run the House and address people-centric issues.
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00:00And joining me on India first is Dr. Syed Zafar Islam, National Spokesperson of the BJP, former MP Rajat Sabah.
00:06Dr. Shama Mohammed is the National Spokesperson of the Congress.
00:09Aarti Jairat is a Senior Journalist and Political Commentator.
00:12Also with me is Professor Monujit Mandal, Political Analyst, to give us a TMC perspective from Bengal.
00:17Dr. Shama Mohammed, the Prime Minister accused the opposition of being frustrated in defeat.
00:23Says the need is to deliver, not do drama.
00:27How do you respond, ma'am?
00:28You know, I was, when I heard this, I laughed because we know who does drama.
00:33The Prime Minister of India is the drama king at the end of the day.
00:37Now, how dare does he say we do drama?
00:40There are very important issues.
00:41One is SIR, as you know.
00:43There is an SIR going all over the country.
00:46We need a discussion on that.
00:49One, more than 40 BLOs have died.
00:52They are removing people, teachers from schools.
00:55Normal school is not happening and making them BLOs.
00:59I mean, and then on one side, the Election Commission says that this is done to remove illegal immigrants.
01:05And that is to prove the citizenship of a citizen of India.
01:09But the Supreme Court says that the Election Commission has no right for that, to prove the citizenship of anybody.
01:14So, in Parliament, they need to explain why an SIR has been done in all over the country, why certain states like Assam is not there.
01:24Why are these BLOs dying?
01:25Wait, let me finish.
01:26Why put pressure?
01:27Number two, what is the most important issue right now, Gauru, Savit, what you and me and all of us who live in Delhi face is the pollution.
01:34It is killing us more than 600, sometimes more than 700 AQI.
01:40People are crying.
01:42I mean, Kiran Bedi, who was a former part of the Bhatia Jantapati, was begging the Prime Minister, can you please do?
01:48He does not want to discuss that.
01:50You see, and of course, we have had a terrorist attack recently at Red Fort.
01:53And what is drama is when the attack happened, he was there in India.
01:58He didn't go to meet the people who died or their families.
02:01He went straight to Bhutan and he had, if I'm not, a celebration, a birthday celebration or something over there.
02:08Then he comes back and goes to the hospital.
02:10That is drama.
02:11We want to know how such security lapses are happening at the center, heart of Delhi.
02:17Why wouldn't they be able to stop it?
02:19What happened in Kulbama?
02:20Three pertinent points you've raised, Sayyad Zafar Islam.
02:22Okay, fair enough.
02:24Sayyad Zafar Islam, KC Venu Gopal accused the Prime Minister of doing drama.
02:28You heard Dr. Shama Mohammed.
02:30This is drama.
02:31Opposition raising people-centric issues.
02:34If, you know, if this is not what they do, from pollution to attack at Red Fort to SIR,
02:40why is the government not engaging, you know, the opposition on issues of public importance, sir?
02:46Well, Gaurav, you have to understand their intent.
02:55Every time we have demonstrated that we want debate to take place on the floor of the parliament,
03:00we have also ensured that in the business advisory committee that we must agree and there is a meeting of minds in terms of what needs to be discussed on the floor of the parliament and how much time needs to be allocated.
03:11Every time they have agreed, but when actually the discussion had to take place, they disrupted
03:17the parliament.
03:18So it is for them to first understand what they are doing, what they are up to, because the
03:22people, as the Honorable Prime Minister rightly said, that in front of camera, you do drama
03:26and you pretend that you want discussion to take place.
03:31But as soon as they see the camera, their mindset changes and they start doing drama.
03:37But the people of India who have chosen them as their member of parliament, as their representative
03:43to the parliament, they expect them to deliver.
03:45And something which is very, very important, because a lot of indication has been given that
03:50how many bills will be introduced, in what area of the bills pertaining to, whether it is
03:57to do with the corporate governance, whether it is to do with health or many more.
04:03And all these important negotiations, once it becomes...
04:05Are the treasury benches open to a discussion on SIR or on pollution?
04:09So, anything under the sun we want to discuss, we are open to discuss.
04:17But, are they a responsible opposition?
04:20Do they really want to discuss or they just want to disrupt the parliament?
04:24It is for them to introspect what they are doing for the last few parliament session.
04:30Every time, every session, every opportunity, they have only disrupted the parliament.
04:37And I think...
04:38Okay, Dr. Shama Mohamad wants to quickly respond before I bring it to Mr. Mandal and Art Jairaz.
04:42Dr. Shama Mohamad...
04:43No, no, just 10 seconds, 10 seconds.
04:45No, no, one second. Let me comment.
04:47They are misusing the taxpayer's money.
04:51Please allow me to complete.
04:53Okay.
04:53They are actually misusing the taxpayer's money by disrupting the parliament.
04:58I want them to become a more responsible opposition party.
05:02I want their parliamentarian to become more responsible.
05:04Fair enough, sir. You have your 10 seconds, Dr. Mohamad wants to respond.
05:06Yeah, I just want to tell one thing to Zafar.
05:10Remember, it is not our job, the opposition, to run the parliament.
05:14It is the treasury bench and the government of India.
05:17Now, the prime minister starts off, instead of saying, you know what, we can have a great discussion this winter session.
05:23We are ready for it.
05:24The prime minister says, opposition shouldn't do dramas.
05:26He is already poking the opposition.
05:28Look at the attitude.
05:30This man will never change.
05:32He is not the prime minister of India.
05:34He is still a Bharatya Jhanta Party Karekarta.
05:37That's the problem.
05:38You don't start a session by poking the opposition.
05:41Can I just come in, Gaurav, Gaurav, can I just come in?
05:45The prime minister has nothing in him.
05:47That's the problem.
05:48Okay, since, ma'am, you specifically mentioned the prime minister, the BJP wants to respond.
05:52What your party is up to?
05:55Go on, Sayyid Zafar Islam.
05:57Go on, sir.
05:57See, the honorable prime minister, before every session begins, parliament session, he has always invited the opposition parties to have a detailed discussion.
06:07But this congress, this most irresponsible party, even yesterday, said that this parliament will be derailed.
06:15Because their intent, they have demonstrated in front of people that what they are up to.
06:19And criticizing prime minister is the only job they have, they are left with, because they cannot face the people.
06:29People have discarded them completely.
06:30Fair enough, Aarti Jairat.
06:31The party has been rejected completely.
06:32They have never been, now, they are now being not blessed by the people every time they criticize the prime minister.
06:40They are using…
06:41Fair enough.
06:41Unvoluntated statements.
06:42Aarti Jairat, if the prime minister's intention was to provoke the opposition, they have been rejected by the people.
06:46He clearly succeeded very well.
06:48Your take on the prime minister saying, there are places for drama, parliament is to debate and to deliver.
06:53Yeah, well, I mean, it was definitely a provocative statement, you know, and designed, I think, to provoke the opposition.
07:03And the opposition responded predictably.
07:05You know, but the sad thing is, though, Gaurav, and we've seen this session after session after session, this blame game that goes on.
07:13No, you disrupt parliament.
07:14No, you disrupt parliament.
07:16No, you're responsible.
07:17No, you're responsible.
07:19Somewhere, this blame game has to stop.
07:23But the thing is, who's going to stop the blame game?
07:27Because no, there is absolutely a complete breakdown of communication between the treasury benches and the opposition benches.
07:36I mean, you know, there was a time when they used to, I mean, a long time ago, Gaurav, when I first started covering parliament, you know, whatever their political rivalries were, they would meet over a cup of tea.
07:47They would have a chat.
07:48They would meet in Central Hall.
07:50They would, you know, there was a kind of friendly banter.
07:54And yes, they crossed swords on parliament, on the floor of the parliament.
07:58But the kind of, you know, the kind of contentiousness that I see today was missing at that time.
08:05And I think that, you know, somewhere, the opposition and the Congress and the government must realize that they may be political opponents, but they are not enemies.
08:18You know, this cannot, parliament cannot be a war zone.
08:22Parliament has to be a place for raising issues.
08:25For a healthy debate, we don't see that happen, you know, more often than not.
08:30That's right. That's right. Because it's become a war zone.
08:32They are fighting with each other all the time.
08:34Yes.
08:34And, you know, I mean, somewhere, I don't know who's going to stop this vicious cycle, but, you know, I mean, I don't know, maybe public pressure, maybe people need to start demanding more from parliament, from parliament.
08:49You know, because bills are just railroaded through.
08:51I have to bring in Professor Monajit Mandel quickly, both want to come in, but I have to bring in Professor Monajit Mandel.
08:58Give me a moment.
08:59Camera pressure.
09:00They want to be seen everywhere disrupting the parliament, protesting the parliament.
09:06You know, this is not the parliament, I'm not the speaker.
09:09That is what they want.
09:10Permitly.
09:11They don't want.
09:12And also, Gaurav, one very important point, 15 days of parliament, they don't even want a parliament.
09:17Gaurav, Gaurav, that's it, that's it.
09:1915 days, when we were in parliament, we allowed parliament for many more days.
09:23They just want winter session 15 days because a dictator says, I don't care about parliament.
09:28I can pass the bill wherever I want.
09:30You know, Professor Monajit Mandel has been waiting so patiently.
09:33Gaurav, Gaurav, Gaurav, Gaurav.
09:34Okay, five seconds.
09:35Gaurav, Gaurav, 10 seconds.
09:36Quickly, quickly.
09:36Just to revert her.
09:38Okay, yes.
09:39Okay.
09:39Go on, sir.
09:4015 days, 15 days.
09:41All I'm saying that these people, these people, no, no, these people have only made statements
09:49after a statement.
09:50But whenever the opportunity was there, they have never discussed.
09:54And whenever they see camera, so their love is only for camera.
09:58They want to show the people that they are disrupting the parliament, they are protesting, and they
10:04are not letting the debate take place.
10:06You are repeating it, right?
10:08You are saying that every time.
10:09Yes, Professor Monajit Mandel, sir, thank you for waiting.
10:13Quickly, Professor Monajit Mandel, Professor Monajit Mandel, Prime Minister insists India
10:17has shown democracy can deliver.
10:19He specifically mentioned record voting in elections.
10:22He also spoke of India's rate of growth.
10:25Sir, does that blunt the opposition's charge?
10:29Or do you think that the issue that the opposition is raising, SIR, you know, that's more important
10:35than any other issue in your view, sir?
10:37You see, the opposition is raising the issue not because it is SIR, but it has become almost
10:43a killing machine.
10:44That's the simple reason.
10:46And if the Prime Minister finds drama in that, talking about the death of 50-plus people,
10:51including the officers of the Election Commission, if he finds drama on that, I mean, what can
10:56be more insensitive than that?
10:58We don't expect that behavior from the Prime Minister also.
11:02Look at the data.
11:03My friend was talking about the role of the opposition.
11:06Look at the data in the last five, six years.
11:09Under 267, rule 267, no, nothing was allowed.
11:14150 parliamentarians were suspended at one go.
11:17The history, this is the first time in the history of Indian democracy.
11:21And look at the only 10% of the bills, they were discussed and they were passed.
11:2690% of the bills were passed without any resistance, without any discussion.
11:29That is the record of this government in the last six, seven years only.
11:33And then this is an issue which is striking a chord with the people of India.
11:38And for God's sake, when you're talking about the death of 50-plus people and the government
11:42and the opposition is raising this issue, you should discuss it.
11:45In fact, I believe that the parliament should have begun by, you know, having this morning
11:50first, at least one minute silence on the death of these people.
11:54And other than that, the Prime Minister is calling it a drama.
11:56What is this?
11:58I mean, sir, debate it.
11:59Because you are responsible for appointing the Election Commission of India.
12:02You have tweaked the rule of appointment of the Election Commission of India.
12:05Sayyid Zafarishlam, respond, that's a very serious issue.
12:09BLOs losing their lives.
12:12SIR process is resulting on the kind of pressure that BLOs and now their videos are coming out
12:18in public domain, sir.
12:19So, where is, why is the opposition wrong if it says it's an urgent issue, debate it in parliament?
12:25Akhilesh Adhav asked, is BLO death a drama, sir?
12:28No, first of all, anything, anything to do with Election Commission, they should approach
12:39the Election Commission.
12:40They are not approaching the Election Commission, but they are only speaking on the television.
12:45My suggestion, like TMC went to Election Commission, Mauna Ji knows the TMC delegation went to the
12:51Election Commission, met the Election Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, whatever the grievances
12:55they had, that was adequately addressed.
12:58There was risk, they have been responded.
13:00Likewise, any other political party can approach.
13:02As far as BLOs are concerned, the clarification has already come from the Election Commission
13:08and I think it is important for us to see, instead of making this kind of irrelevant and
13:12best-less and irresponsible statement which is coming from the opposition parties.
13:17Okay, so you're saying it's irrelevant?
13:19Okay, Mauna Ji, come in, sir, quickly, quickly before I bring in Aarti Jairad.
13:22Go on, sir.
13:23I want to come in, too, Gaurav.
13:25Please, madam, let's not be a parliament, the floor of the parliament.
13:30Can we have a same debate?
13:31I respect you a lot.
13:32The fact remains that TMC has gone to the Office of the Election Commission and they had
13:36to extend the deadline.
13:38It suggests that everything was done in extraordinary haste.
13:42And that is the simple reason that people were killed.
13:44I mean, you're talking about seven plus core people in one month.
13:49Even I have friends in the BLOs, I mean, who are teaching in the school, their wife, their
13:53husband, they are under tremendous pressure.
13:55Not just in Bengal.
13:56Yes, maximum number of people were killed in Bengal.
13:59But it's happening across the country.
14:01It should have been more sensitive.
14:02We could have taken more time to do it.
14:04And you talk about going to the Election Commission.
14:06You are creating a very difficult environment for them.
14:09Hang on, please.
14:09You are a parliament chair.
14:10Not Election Commission.
14:11It is you.
14:11You are a parliament chair.
14:12It is your government.
14:12Hang on.
14:13Hang on.
14:13Let me speak.
14:14These people are poor.
14:15One by one.
14:16They are downtrodden people.
14:17All I am trying to tell you is that you must know the truth.
14:20Whenever we raise this issue, you ask them to go to the Supreme Court of India, they
14:24are not even finding two squares meal a day and you are asking them to go to the Supreme
14:27Court of India?
14:28The people of prominent citizens' names are not there.
14:31One of our friends on the media who appears on the television, Shrikhadi, Shrikha Mukherjee's
14:35name has been deleted.
14:36She has been a voter since 1990.
14:39What are you talking about?
14:40This is an exercise which is fraught with tremendous danger and it was done absolutely
14:44under race, maybe under the duress of the government.
14:47No, no.
14:48Gaurav, Gaurav, instead of making this kind of statement, there is always a procedure to
14:54get you.
14:54No, no.
14:56I am saying this kind of statement, if somebody makes that this is the process one has to
15:01follow, if someone's name has been deleted accidentally or been missed, it is for you.
15:07There are opportunities there for you.
15:08Once you see that your name is missing, you must approach the election.
15:11The administration needs to change their strategy and include, you know, he said, I will give
15:18you tips which should include you perform.
15:21Let new members of parliament speak.
15:23Don't ignore their rights.
15:24Now, do you see more of what Malik Arjun Kharge is saying will happen, you know, 12 in the
15:30monsoon session, 12 bills were passed, some with discussion of under 15 minutes and others
15:35with no discussion at all?
15:37Yeah, I think that's exactly the way this parliament session is going to go too.
15:42And, you know, I would just, just to comment on this SIR business.
15:47Look, I don't think that, you know, I think in a democracy, even one death should worry
15:54us.
15:54You know, and I don't think we should be so officious in saying that we need to follow
15:59a proper procedure and so on.
16:00If there is a death, anybody dies.
16:03And that map that you put up just now, Gaurav, was quite revealing.
16:07It's not just in West Bengal.
16:09It is also in states that are ruled by the BJP.
16:12So, you know, clearly something is happening and I think it deserves a discussion.
16:17Now, you know, the opposition should approach a request for a discussion through the proper
16:24channels.
16:24But, yes, there should be a discussion on this.
16:28And, you know, I think this map is very, very revealing.
16:31Look at it.
16:32It indeed is.
16:33It indeed is.
16:35But, you know, let me quote to you, Dr. Shama Mohammed.
16:40You know, if 10 to 15 crores go down the drain if parliament does not function.
16:46Remember Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2013 had said when BJP disrupted parliament by not allowing
16:51parliament to function, we make a mockery of our system.
16:54Or former Speaker Balram Jakhar of the Congress Party, words to the effect, EC is a constitutional
16:59body.
17:00Their work cannot be discussed in parliament or words to that effect.
17:03How do you come around this issue, ma'am?
17:07Yeah.
17:07So, one, before I come to that, just now Zafar said one thing.
17:1140 BLO deaths are irrelevant.
17:14That's the word he used.
17:15Irrelevant.
17:16Can you imagine how insensitive the Bharatiya Janta Party has become?
17:21Because you can see the videos where they are crying.
17:24You know, that's very sad.
17:26And number two.
17:26You should, you should listen to, you don't miss, no, no, don't say things which I have
17:33not spoken.
17:33I said, you people are making irrelevant statement, misleading the people.
17:39Election commission is giving the right feedback.
17:41You cannot, you cannot become judge.
17:44You don't know how they have died.
17:46Election commission knows the fact.
17:48And they are making the statement.
17:49David, we are giving the clarification.
17:51Okay.
17:51One by one.
17:52You are, you are insensitive and trying to mislead the nation.
17:57We will not allow you to do that.
17:58Okay.
17:59We will not allow you to do that.
18:01So, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what,
18:03what just said a very important point when she started speaking.
18:06She said the prime minister of India was provocative.
18:10He is provoking the, the, so Manmohan Singh never provoked.
18:15Let's not forget it.
18:16You know, Atal Tihari Vatwari never provoked the opposition.
18:18Sayyad Zafar Islam, you wanted to quickly respond because of the last 30 seconds of this
18:21part of the show.
18:22It is the duty of the treasury branch to run parliament.
18:25See, I, the, the, the, the, the only job the opposition, the opposition bench have,
18:32opposition parties to mislead the people.
18:34Like I said something else.
18:36What, what she said is was totally misrepresentation of what I had said.
18:40That is what they are doing in the entire nation.
18:43And that's why people are discarding them, rejecting them time and again.
18:46They must understand that by misleading the people, you will not achieve anything.
18:50By, by making a unwarranted statement against the honorable prime minister, you will time
18:56and again be discarded by the people.
18:58You have to be more constructive.
18:58Fair enough.
18:58It's for the people of this country to decide.
19:01But this is a story you will be tracking very closely.
19:03Do keep in mind, in September 2012, late Sushma Swaraj had said, we had to stall the parliament
19:10to expose the government.
19:12It's the government's job to run the parliament, not that of the opposition.
19:16Now, we'll be tracking the story very, very closely.
19:19I have to slip into a quick break here.
19:20I want to thank all my guests on this part of the show.
19:23But let's do it.
19:36time and thank you for coming forward.
19:40Let's do it.
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