Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari sitting in protest in Delhi. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)
BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi began their day-long fast Thursday in protest against the washout of Parliament proceedings during both legs of the Budget session.
Sticking to his daily schedule and work, PM Modi inaugurated the defence exposition in Kanchipuram near Chennai. Several BJP MPs have started the fast at district headquarters across the country. BJP president Amit Shah is fasting in poll-bound Karnataka, while Union Health Minister J P Nadda is fasting in PM Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi.
The BJP’s fast comes days after the Congress held a nationwide fast on April 9 to protest against Dalit atrocities and acts of communal violence that have seen a flare up across the country. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, however, took on the BJP over a rape case involving its lawmaker. He tweeted: “The atrocities committed on a father who was calling for justice for his daughter in Uttar Pradesh has shamed mankind. It is to be hoped that the Prime Minister will hold a fast soon over the violence against women, the failure of law and order and growing anarchy under the BJP rule”. Click here to read more | See photos
Highlights
Amit Shah: We were ready for debate but pposition lacked courage
Amit Shah said, "The history is replete with instances since independence where ruling party evades discussion in the parliament. However, we were ready for debate but the opposition lacked the courage to debate."
Congress calls PM Modi's fast a drama, photo-op
Taking a swipe against PM Modi’s proposed fast, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi cited the Unnao rape incident and said he hoped that the prime minister would observe a fast “over atrocities against women, failed law and order and increasing anarchy under the BJP’s watch.” Calling it a “drama” and “photo-op,” Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala blamed the BJP for Parliament washout. “Prime Minister ji, it is not the time to observe fast, in view of your failures… it is time to take retirement instead. If you do not wake up now, you should understand that the time of your retirement will come in 2019 when people will vote you out,” he added.
PM Modi: It is a fast to expose ‘enemies of democracy’
Addressing BJP MPs on the party’s foundation day, PM Modi directed all party units across the nation to observe the fast. he also addressed party MPs through an audio conference call ahead of the protest Wednesday and said the BJP leaders and its workers will observe the fast tomorrow to “expose” those handfuls of people who “throttled” democracy by stalling Parliament proceedings.
No eating and no selfies, BJP advises workers ahead of fast
BJP Delhi MPs on Wednesday issues instructions to its workers ahead of the day-long fast led by PM Modi: don’t be seen eating, don’t click selfies, clear food vendors from the area and don’t fast if you’re diabetic. While all MPs have been asked to observe a day-long fast and “clearly place facts before the public and media that the Congress has murdered democracy by stalling Parliament”, a section of Delhi MPs added their own specific instructions to the workers.
BJP MP from Delhi Manoj Tiwari was attended by a doctor while he was observing fast in the National Capital. 'I had recently undergone a laser operation for stone,so there is some pain.But my pain is not bigger than the pain of public,' Tiwari said, reported ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Lok Sabha members Poonam Mahajan (North Central Mumbai) and Paresh Rawal (Gujarat), local MLAs Parag Alavani, Amit Satam and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar sat on the day-long fast at the party office in Mumbai. Attacking the Congress, Fadnavis said the Rahul Gandhi-led party has no moral strength to face Parliament because when the Prime Minister counters it. "They have no face to show." He also alleged that most of the atrocities on Dalits took place during the Congress rule. "The Dalit and tribal entrepreneurship is being encouraged by the Modi government," he pointed out.
"People know contradictions of the opposition parties. They can't stay together. What is the alternative to Modi in terms of policies, programmes and leadership? The opposition only wants power...(but) they don't have an alternative to Modi," Fadnavis said adding that PM Modi is dedicated to the welfare of the people and the country. "Until the Congress learns to respect and preserve democracy, don't send their members to Parliament," he appealed to people.
While leaving the venue for some official work in Nanded, Fadnavis said, "Don't worry, I will not have 'chole bhature'," taking a a dig at the Congress over its leaders "seen having food" before their fast on Monday.
Congress leader Kapil Sibal attacked PM Modi for maintaining his silence over the alleged Unnao rape case. Taking a jibe against BJP, Sibal said PM Modi was “not serious” about the crime against women across the country and also asked the prime minister to observe fast overthe Unnnao rape incidents to register protest against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
BJP workers, led by Andhra Pradesh unit president K Hari Babu observed a fast in Vishakapatnam. P Vishnu Kumar Raju, BJP floor leader in the Assembly and MLC P V Madhav also took part in the protest. However, 20 CPI members were arrested after they picked up an argument with the BJP leaders, leada ing to clash between the two sides
Amit Shah said, "The history is replete with instances since independence where ruling party evades discussion in the parliament. However, we were ready for debate but the opposition lacked the courage to debate."
BJP President Amit Shah said, "Appeals of PM Modi, Speaker, Vice-President for the functioning of the parliament went unheard. The Congress does not believe in democracy."
Uma Bharti along with Minakshi Lekhi , Suresh prabhu and Vijay Goyal during the BJP fast. (Express photos by Renuka Puri)
Leaders and supporters of the Gujarat BJP participating in a dharna cum fast at Lal Darwaja area of Ahmedabad. This is part of the nation-wide dharna programme by the BJP to save democracy. (Express photos Javed Raja)
Tinsukia MLA Sri Sanjay Kishan along with party workers is sitting on fast at DC Office, Tinsukia to protest against the disruption of Parliament by the Congress party and their allies.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar tweeted, "Data speaks for itself - how insecure, frustrated and anti-democratic Congress stalled Parliament in the important Budget Session having no concern for real issues, breaking all Parliamentary procedures and process.