Congress today found support from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as it accused the government in the Lok Sabha of "repressing" opposition leaders. (Photo - Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress)
Congress today found support from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as it accused the government in the Lok Sabha of "repressing" opposition leaders.
Citing corruption cases against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan, party leader Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the government over its "vendetta politics", claiming that it applied one set of laws against its leaders and another for those from BJP.
He, however, made no reference to the National Herald case, seen as a trigger for the party's protests in Parliament since yesterday after the High Court refused to give Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi any relief.
Mr Kharge raised the issue during the Zero Hour after Congress members kept up their protests in the Well for the second day today, accusing the Narendra Modi government of targeting those who are not in agreement with its policies.
"There are two laws in this country -- one for the opposition and another for the government. When we raised the issue of corruption involving Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh chief ministers, no action was taken.
"But you raided the premises of our Gujarat leader Shankarsinh Vaghela. When a wedding was taking place in the house of Virbharda Singh, CBI raided his house. Nothing came out of this and then ED lodged a case against him. False CBI cases are being registered in Haryana but no action taken against BJP chief ministers involved in scams," he said.
He also raised the reported meeting of a Union Minister with a Muzaffarnagar riot accused in jail and his assurance of support to them.
"You are adopting the politics of revenge, repression and tyranny against opposition leaders. This is happening not only with us but others like the TMC too. If people do not agree with you, then you try to harass them," Mr Kharge said amid support from TMC members.
Seeking to dispel the impression that Congress was upset over the National Herald case, he said "we are not against judiciary. We are protesting against your policies of repression."
Rebutting strongly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu raked up the arrest of BJP president Amit Shah and also enquiries against Prime Minister Modi during the UPA tenure. He said that the Congress is not letting Parliament function and harming national interest.
"A judicial order has come," he said, referring to the National Herald case. "You are giving a warning to judiciary through Parliament. This is not in national interest."