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Regular-article-logo Wednesday, 03 September 2025

Scarves of victory vs NiMo slogans

If the BJP had expected its electoral success in the Northeast to demoralise the Opposition and intimidate aggrieved allies in Parliament, Monday's proceedings seemed not to follow the script.

Our Bureau Published 06.03.18, 12:00 AM
BJP president Amit Shah, sporting a scarf from the Northeast, shows the victory sign on the first day in Parliament after the Assembly election wins. 
 

New Delhi: If the BJP had expected its electoral success in the Northeast to demoralise the Opposition and intimidate aggrieved allies in Parliament, Monday's proceedings seemed not to follow the script.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and other ruling party MPs donned traditional scarves from the Northeast and flashed victory signs on Parliament's premises before the session started.

But inside the Houses, they were greeted with "Nirav Modi wapas lao" - a call to bring back the diamond merchant and bank fraud accused who has fled the country - and a host of other slogans.

Not just the Opposition but even members of BJP ally Telugu Desam Party were in the well of the Lok Sabha, protesting against the government on various issues.

While the Congress and Trinamul chanted slogans about the Punjab National Bank fraud, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, YSR Congress and the AIADMK raised issues relating to their states.

Desam members sought "justice" for Andhra Pradesh and vented their anger at the Centre's failure to keep its promises about addressing the state's demands.

Home minister Rajnath Singh and cabinet colleague Ananth Kumar also wore the scarves to Parliament on Monday.
 

Both Houses witnessed repeated adjournments and ended the opening day of the second leg of the budget session without transacting any worthwhile business. The Lok Sabha barely sat for minutes before it was adjourned for the day around noon.

The BJP had begun the day in celebratory mood. As soon as the Prime Minister arrived, the waiting contingent of Shah, ministers and MPs had presented him with traditional scarves of the Northeast and flashed victory signs.

Inside the Lok Sabha, Desam members asked the BJP to follow the "alliance dharma" and provide the promised financial assistance to their state. Not to be outdone, their local rival YSR Congress demanded special status for Andhra.

The AIADMK, considered friendly towards the BJP, demanded the formation of a Cauvery water management body.

Similar scenes were seen in the Rajya Sabha. Shah entered the Upper House with a Naga scarf round his neck, evoking loud cheers from the ruling benches. But as soon as the proceedings began, the well of the House saw an invasion.

Trinamul members chanted slogans against Nirav Modi. The Congress, which had submitted an adjournment notice in both Houses demanding suspension of business to discuss the bank fraud, questioned the Prime Minister's silence.

The BJP sought to move a counter notice for a discussion on "corrupt practices indulged by the relatives of former ministers" - an attempt to milk the arrest of Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, on bribery charges. But the Chair, M. Venkaiah Naidu, rejected it on technical grounds.

As did defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and HRD minister Prakash Javadekar. PTI pictures
 

 

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