Sena MP Sanjay Raut accuses govt of creating atmosphere of fear

Raut, while participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, also advised the government to relieve the fear of the agitators of Shaheen Bagh and solve the problem by talking to the protestors.

Referring to the Modi government's slogan of 'Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas', he said that development will continue, but the public's trust is more important.

The Shiv Sena leader in the House said there is some power that wants to break the country, creating an atmosphere of hatred.

"This environment needs to be repaired. For two months, the citizens of the country have been sitting on a dharna, irrespective of religion, but the government's job was to remove fear within them," Raut said.

"There should be a rule of law, but such laws should not be made, which create panic. Laws should not be meant to frighten the public and there should be no politics of fear," he added.

Raut said that on one hand, people of the government say that in 15 days, Pakistan will lick the dust, while on the other, according to a report of CAG, the soldiers posted on the border have not been getting salary for two months and are not getting ration, snow boots and snow glasses.

At this, Neeraj Shekhar and Rakesh Sinha, both from BJP, attacked Raut, which triggered a furore.

Opposition members came out in support of Raut. Deputy Chairman Harivansh intervened and the matter was resolved.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP Keshava Rao on Tuesday said the state government, under K Chandrashekhar Rao, will pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), "On the principle that there cannot be a law that can change the Constitution".

He said the state Assembly would pass a resolution opposing the CAA, as the Government could not have a law trying to change the Constitution, which it was trying to do.

"Is there no persecution after 2014?," he asked, referring to the cut-off date for accepting refugees from three neighbouring countries and added, "Suspicions have come to mind and we should not allow it to divide us."

Stating that the "dark age of democracy" was here, CPI (M) MP Elamaram Kareem said the Presidential address had failed to mention the worst-ever economic slowdown, decline in growth and unemployment.

The amendment of Citizenship law would undermine the Constitution, he added. The Budget had announced all out privatisation, he regretted.

Image credit : UNI