A special debate marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution is set to begin on Friday in the Lok Sabha. Newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to deliver her maiden speech during the debate. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion.
The two-day debate, scheduled to start at 12 noon on Friday, will see participation from over 12 BJP leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to respond to the discussion on December 14 evening. Leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance, including HD Kumaraswamy, Srikant Shinde, Shambhavi Chaudhary, Rajkumar Sangwan, Jiten Ram Manjhi, Anupriya Patel, and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, are also expected to speak.
According to ANI, BJP and its allies will raise the issue of Emergency and counter the opposition’s “fake narratives.” Key figures from opposition parties, including DMK’s TR Balu and A Raja, and Trinamool Congress’ Kalyan Banerjee and Mohua Moitra, are likely to participate in the debate.
Both BJP and Congress have issued a ‘three-line whip’ to ensure their members’ presence in the House. The BJP’s official statement requested all members to be present throughout the two days of debate.
“All BJP members in Lok Sabha are hereby informed that the 75th Anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India will be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the 13th of December and Saturday, the 14th of December 2024. All members of the BJP in Lok Sabha are, therefore, requested to be positively present in the House throughout both days i.e. Friday, the 13th of December and Saturday, the 1of 4th of December 2024 and support the Government’s stand,” the official statement of the BJP said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah will initiate the debate on December 16.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed his intention for the debate to take place smoothly, emphasising that despite derogatory comments, the opposition aims for a productive discussion on December 13-14.
“I held a meeting with the Speaker. I told him that derogatory comments against me should be expunged. The Speaker said that he would look into it…Our aim is that the House must run and discussion should happen in the House. No matter what they say about me, we want that there should be a debate on 13th December,” Gandhi said.
The winter session of Parliament, which began on November 25, will continue until December 20.