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As INDIA bloc opposed the One Nation, One Election bill, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju slammed Congress saying, "Does they mean to say that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's government for so long was illegal"
Speaking with ANI, Rijiju noted that India had One Nation and One Election for two decades after independence, primarily during the country's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's government. He further alleged Congress of "misusing" Article 356 and holding separate elections. "One Nation, One Election is a very important issue for the nation. It's not for the party or any other individual, it's for the country. When the bill for One Nation, One Election will be introduced, I hope that the country will see Congress play a negative game. When India got independence, for 2 decades India had One Nation, One Election. It was only after Congress misused Article 356, then there were different elections between Parliament and some of the states...Does Congress mean to say that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's government for so long was illegal because that time, it was One Nation, One Election?" Rijiju said. Rijiju questioned Congress's intention to continue the current trends of elections being held "month after month". He stated that elections are held to serve the country. "Does Congress mean that the country should keep on conducting elections month after month for 5 years? We must understand that we hold the election to serve the country and the people of this country," Rijiju said. Further lambasting Congress over their criticism of EVMs, Rijiju mentioned that they formed the government in 2004 and 2009 through these EVMs. "Congress formed government twice, in 2004 and 2009 only through EVM machines. All Congress MPs questioning the EVM have been elected through the EVM machine only. Does Congress mean that they got elected through undemocratic means and faulty machines? Congress has no issue left and they want to just play politics," Rijiju said. Earlier in the day, Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted a formal notice to oppose the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha. "My objections to the proposed bill are based on serious concerns regarding constitutionalism and constitutionality," he stated. (ANI)
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