INDIA DOWNS MODI IN PARL: PM MUST 'SPEAK'

New Delhi, NT Bureau: Opposition INDIA bloc MPs gathered at Parliament complex on Monday in a show of strength on the first day of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, holding copies of the Constitution and raising slogans on "saving democracy".

Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress' Sudip Bandyopadhyay, DMK's TR Baalu, among others assembled at the spot where the Gandhi statue once stood in the Parliament complex.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also joined the MPs. Holding copies of the Constitution in their hands, they raised slogans such as "long live Constitution", "we will save Constitution", "save our democracy".

Rahul Gandhi said they would not allow the Constitution to be "attacked" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"This attack is not acceptable to us and that is why we held the Constitution and took oath," he said.

"Our message is reaching the public and no power can touch the Constitution of India and we will protect it," Gandhi added. Congress leader KC Venugopal said the INDIA bloc leaders entered the 18th Lok Sabha with Mahatma Gandhi's blessings.

"The INDIA alliance enters the 18th Lok Sabha with Bapu’s blessings and with a fresh resolve to give voice to people’s issues, challenges, hopes and aspirations in Parliament and keep the government in check every single minute," he said in a post on X.

‘Arrogance remains’: Kharge says PM mum on NEET, train mishap

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, failed to mention alleged irregularities in entrance examinations and the recent train accident in West Bengal.

Kharge also questioned why Modi did not speak about violence in Manipur and the floods in northeastern India. Ahead of the session, Modi addressed the media and said that people of the country wanted substance and not slogans from the Opposition.

“People expect good steps from the Opposition but it has been disappointing so far,” Modi said. In response, Kharge said the nation was hoping that the PM would address important issues in his speech.

“Clearly, even after a moral and political defeat, the arrogance remains!” he said. The Congress president said Modi failed to take responsibility for the “massive rigging and corruption of his government.”

'Changed' Modi will strive to take all along

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Monday that his government will strive to take everyone along and build a consensus but also took a swipe at the Congress over the Emergency, calling it a "black spot" on democracy when the Constitution was "discarded".

Speaking to reporters minutes before the start of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, Modi said the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's electoral victory was proof that the people have put their stamp of approval on his government's intentions, policies and commitments towards them.

With the Congress and the opposition, in general, targeting his government over a host of issues, including the choice for pro-tem Speaker, Modi's customary pre-session remarks carried barbs for his rivals as he said that people want debate and diligence, and not drama and disturbance, in Parliament.

People want substance, not slogans, the PMtold reporters, in an apparent reference to several previous sessions that were marred by the absence of a debate due to adjournments caused by frequent run-ins between the treasury and opposition benches.

Buoyed by its strong show in the Lok Sabha polls, in which the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a majority but with reduced numbers, the opposition INDIA bloc is expected to turn up its aggression inside and outside Parliament.

MODI OFF TO SHAKY 15-DAY START

• June 3 onwards: Amul raises price of milk by Rs 3 per litre; followed by vegetables, lentils getting dearer; rates of gas and toll also up.
• June 4: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results out, an unusual 67 score perfect 67; irregularities alleged. June 10: Militants fire on bus carrying pilgrims heading to the Vaishno Devi shrine; kill nine, injure 33 in Reasi district, Jammu.
• June 17: Kanchanjunga Express collides with goods train near Jalpaiguri, West Bengal; 11 die, more than 60 injured.
• June 19: UGC NET exams canceled day after it was held; paper leak cited as reason. June 20: Rupee falls to record low of Rs 83.62 against the US dollar.
• June 22: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET) slated for Tuesday canceled.
• June 22: NEET Post Graduate (PG) exam postponed.