Democracy Cannot Survive Without Opposition: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Opposition is a key component of democracy without which it cannot survive, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

"In a healthy democracy, where there is a role and relevance of the government, there is also an important role for the opposition. Opposition is important for a healthy democracy. Democracy cannot survive without opposition," Mr Singh said at an event to mark the death anniversary of BR Ambedkar which was also attended by leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

Mr Singh also complimented Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya on inviting Mr Kharge. Mr Singh said invitation to the Congress leader, also a former labour minister, was in accordance with the principles laid down by the architect of the Indian Constitution BR Ambedkar.

According to Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, GST Bill and the Real Estate Bill are on the list of Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday.

The government and the opposition, particularly Congress, are engaged in a cat and mouse game over Goods and Services Tax Bill for quite some time.

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Lauding Dr Ambedkar, a former labour minister, Mr Singh said he was not only the architect of the Constitution but the architect of modern India as he laid the foundations for two other important institutions--the Reserve Bank of India and Finance Commission.

"Babasaheb Ambedkar understood quite well that the economic system needed both capital and labour. He established many institutions for distribution of capital and worked a lot to address the issue of the labourers," he said, adding it was because of Dr Ambedkar's efforts that issues relating to the working class have gained importance.

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