Lok Sabha results mark independence from communal politics: Akhilesh Yadav

Senior Opposition MPs on Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP during the Lok Sabha debate on the President's address, accusing them of indulging in politics of polarisation during the general elections.

The Opposition also projected its enhanced tally in the House as a rejection of BJP's politics and the government's "vindictive politics" against the Opposition leaders.

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said: "June 4, 2024, was the day of independence from communal politics for India. In this election, communal politics lost forever. Whole India has understood that INDIA (bloc) is pro-India. This election is the moral victory of INDIA. It is a victory of positive politics. It is a victory of PDA (Pichde Dali Alpsankhyak). 2024's message is also full of responsibility for the INDIA bloc. This election is a new era of positive politics, pro-Constitution people have won, the Constitution has won."


The Kannauj MP also made use of the occasion to take a jibe at BJP for losing Faizabad seat, which also houses the Ayodhya Ram temple. "Whatever Ram has planned will happen. The victory of Ayodhya is the victory of the wisdom of India's voters." He said the election has not settled the questions on EVMs and that even if his party wins all 80 LS seats of UP, he will still not trust EVMs. He also criticised the government over NEET paper leak.

Congress MP KC Venugopal termed the polls "a moral victory" for the INDIA bloc. He accused the PM of having indulged in communal speeches during the election campaign and violating constitutional norms. Venugopal said Congress won the Lok Sabha seats such as Banswara in Rajasthan and Banaskantha in Gujarat where the PM made such polarising speeches. "Our PM has clearly violated constitutional norms in his speech. We gave hundreds of petitions to the Election Commission and they have become only a silent spectator," he said.


Venugopal questioned the credibility of BJP to brand Congress leaders as "anti-Hindu". "I am going to challenge you people (BJP), you are not Hindu believers at all. You are using Hinduism for polarising people to win the election. Who is a real Hindu? The one who understands the message of debate, tolerance and human values. Mahatma Gandhi and Godse believed in the Bhagavad Gita, but Gandhi learnt non-violence, tolerance and respect for human life from the Gita and the message of Lord Krishna. Godse learnt violence, murder and intolerance from the same text. We believe in Gandhi's Hinduism, not Godse's... You (BJP) think that Modi is bigger than god. That is the biggest anti-Hindu statement. Nobody is bigger than god as per Hindu tradition, and that is why god punished you in this election."

Trinamool's Kalyan Banerjee said the PM and BJP, who went to polls by claiming to win 400 plus seats, have been reduced to run the government without a majority and by depending on allies. "The PM used to come to this House in full confidence. Now he walks into this very House with two crutches - TDP and JDU."

Responding to his charges that Modi was trying to muscle the Opposition, BJP MP from West Bengal, Saumitra Khan, said: "In West Bengal, no election takes place other than Lok Sabha and assembly elections... They have killed more than 200 BJP workers. Trinamool paraded a naked woman in Cooch Behar."

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raked up Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's charge against the Speaker.