"Irrelevant, it is a state subject": Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Parliament disruption

New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): congress-mp">Congress MP Shashi Tharoor attacked the ruling government on Monday for disrupting the Parliament and said that the issue the government raised is "irrelevant" as it is a state subject.
"It is utterly shocking when you see that the ruling party, essentially the Government whose responsibility it is to run the House, has chosen to disrupt the Parliament in this way. It is deeply disappointing. To my mind, the issue they have raised is also irrelevant because it is State subject...It has nothing to do with the Central Parliament. Why are they trying to disrupt the House on the basis of that?" Tharoor told ANI.
"Honestly, we are reducing Parliament to a farce. If we don't function properly, why will the voters want to entrust their precious tax money to running this institution which we used to hail as the temple of democracy? If instead of prayers here, we are having shouting matches, it's really a disappointment," he added.
A ruckus erupted within a few minutes of the proceedings in Rajya Sabha over Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's reported remarks about "changing the Constitution".
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded an explanation from the Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, regarding the Congress' position on reservation for Muslims, whereas the Congress chief said that nobody can change the Constitution.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kiren Rijiju termed the Shivakumar's statement "extremely serious."
"It is not our intention to disrupt this zero hour why I am standing here because an extremely sensitive matter come to our notice. One of the very responsible leaders of the Congress party, who is holding a constitutional post. They have made a statement that they are going to change the Constitution to provide reservations in contract to the Muslim community. We cannot take this statement lightly. It is an extremely serious matter we cannot tolerate, and this an assault on the Constitution of India. I want a clear-cut reply from the Congress president (Mallikarjun Kharge) who is sitting in the House. He should make his position and tell the House as well as the people of India why the Congress party want to change the Constitution to provide reservations to Muslims," Rijiju said.
Replying to Kiren Rijiju, LoP and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that his party took up the Bharat Jodo Yatra across the country to protect the Constitution.
"Nobody can change the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Nobody can finish the reservation. To protect it, we did the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. They (points at NDA MPs) break India," Kharge said.
Kiren Rijiju further replied to Kharge and demanded the resignation of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
"Raising the issue of Muslim reservation, Congress has sullied the prestige of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution. If you have guts, demand the resignation of Deputy CM today itself," Rijiju said.
Leader of the House JP Nadda added it is stated in the Constitution that reservation will not be given based on religion.
"Congress Party's move to implement religion-based reservations contradicts the core principles established by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Constitution. In Karnataka, the Congress has already introduced a 4% reservation based on religion for public contracts. Such laws and policies should be withdrawn. No one can change the Constitution that evolved under the guidance of BR Ambedkar," Nadda stated.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the House till 2 pm amid uproar over 4 per cent reservation for minorities in Karnataka.
This comes after DK Shivakumar, at an event on Sunday, talked about the bill that provided four per cent reservation to minorities and other backward classes in public contracts in the state in an event, purportedly said that the "Constitution will be changing." (ANI)