Congress imposed Emergency, shouldn't talk about conventions: Sukanta Majumdar on protest over pro-tem speaker
New Delhi: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar supported the decision to appoint senior parliamentarian Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem Speaker amid demands by the Congress to appoint K Suresh and said the Congress had imposed Emergency and should not talk about conventions.
Majumdar said, "The opposition has got more seats this time. So, they are raising their voice on every issue. Bhartruhari Mahtab is a senior parliamentarian. He is an elected MP consecutively for the 7th time. They are demanding K Suresh to be appointed as pro-tem Speaker. He has been elected for the 8th time, but his service period is non-consecutive."
He further hit out at the Congress, saying that the party has no right to talk about conventions as they have also breached it many times.
He further said, "Congress has breached the conventions a lot of times. Those who had imposed emergency should not talk about the conventions."
He also congratulated the newly-elected parliamentarians and said that it would be a historic occasion for the first-time elected MPs who will enter the new Parliament building.
Bhartruhari Mahtab was on Monday sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha's first session, which will begin with the oath-taking of the new MPs.
Amid the row over the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker, INDIA bloc leaders on Monday carried out a protest holding copies of the Constitution inside the Parliament premises in the national capital.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge took part in the protest.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "The ruling party hasn't forgotten their haughtiness...we can see that they are ignoring the key subjects of the country...the whole Dalit community in India could witness a historic scene if K Suresh were appointed as Pro-tem Speaker...today, BJP has not just neglected Congress, INDIA alliance and K Suresh but the whole Dalit community..."
