Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Criticizes PM Modi’s Remarks on Former Vice President Hamid Ansari

New Delhi [India], July 6: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments about former Vice President Hamid Ansari. Ramesh described Modi’s remarks as ‘awful and unacceptable.’

During a recent Parliament session, PM Modi suggested that the Rajya Sabha Chairman in 2014 had inclinations towards the Opposition. Ramesh condemned these comments, accusing Modi of breaking parliamentary decorum and targeting Ansari, who held significant diplomatic positions in countries vital to India’s interests.

Ramesh highlighted that this was not the first time Modi had targeted Ansari, recalling Modi’s farewell speech in 2017, where he alluded to Ansari’s diplomatic postings in Islamic countries. Ramesh emphasized that Ansari had also served as High Commissioner to Australia and as India’s Permanent Representative at the UN in New York.

Ramesh accused Modi of diminishing the dignity of his office and breaking all parliamentary norms. He stated, ‘No PM has ever attacked a former Speaker or Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in the manner that Modi has.’

During his reply to the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha on July 2, PM Modi said, ‘No matter how many numbers they claim, when we came in 2014, our strength in the Rajya Sabha was very low, and the Chair’s inclination was somewhat on the other side. But we did not waver from our resolve to serve the country with pride.’

Hamid Ansari served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from August 11, 2012, to August 10, 2017.