Prime Minister Modi and Other Leaders Take Oath in New Parliament Amid Protests
Today marked the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha in New Delhi, with many important leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, taking their oaths as Members of Parliament. Other Union Ministers like G. Kishan Reddy, Chirag Paswan, Kiren Rijiju, Nitin Gadkari, and Mansukh Mandaviya also took their oaths.
Before the session began, BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected on June 26, and President Murmu will address a joint sitting of both houses on June 27.
However, the appointment of Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker sparked protests from the opposition INDIA bloc. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition members, protested in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament, holding copies of the Constitution. They argued that the appointment deviated from the traditional practice of appointing the seniormost member.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the ruling party, saying they ignored key issues and neglected the Dalit community by not appointing K Suresh as the pro-tem Speaker. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also joined the protest, claiming the appointment violated constitutional provisions.
The first day of the session also saw protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exams. Opposition MPs raised slogans and expressed their anger as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took his oath. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of leaking exam papers to please its supporters, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi listed multiple issues, including the NEET scam, in a social media post.
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Prime Minister Modi for not addressing these issues in his speech. He accused the PM of using customary words and remaining silent on important matters like the NEET exam irregularities, Manipur violence, and a recent train accident in West Bengal.
Despite the protests, Prime Minister Modi addressed the media before the session, congratulating the newly elected members and expressing pride in the democratic process. He emphasized the goal of building a developed India by 2047 and thanked the people for their support in electing his government for a third consecutive term.
Modi also took a dig at the Congress party, referring to the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed in 1975 under Indira Gandhi’s rule. He called it a ‘blot on democracy’ and urged the nation to protect democratic traditions.
In response, Congress leaders criticized Modi’s remarks, accusing him of breaking democratic norms and ignoring the Constitution. They vowed to continue their protests and hold the government accountable.
