During the oath-taking ceremony in the 18th Lok Sabha, members of the Opposition INDIA bloc made a powerful statement by waving copies of the Constitution. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah took their oaths, the red-covered Constitutions were raised in clear protest against what the Opposition perceived as an “assault” on the foundational text by the government, reflecting ongoing protests in Parliament.

protests in Parliament
Image Source: www.pmindia.gov.in

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan faced chants of “NEET, NET, shame, shame” from the opposition members, highlighting the controversy surrounding entrance examinations. Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition leaders, occupied the first row on the opposition benches. In a closely watched contest, Awadhesh Prasad defeated the two-time sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MP Lallu Singh from Faizabad by a margin of 54,567 votes.

Opposition Walkout as a Mark of Protest

Notably, Congress member Kodikunnil Suresh, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s TR Baalu, and Trinamool Congress’ Sudip Bandyopadhyay walked out of the House during the oath-taking as a mark of protest over the appointment of pro-tem Speaker Mahtab.

The Opposition members were also part of the panel of chairpersons to assist the pro-tem Speaker. Despite their absence, the panel was administered the oath immediately after Prime Minister Modi, who leads the 18th Lok Sabha.

As members entered the cavernous chamber of the lower house, hugs and greetings marked the beginning of the session. Bansuri Swaraj, a first-term lawmaker and daughter of BJP stalwart late Sushma Swaraj, engaged with fellow members, exchanging greetings and capturing moments through photographs.

The Telugu Desam Party members, key allies of the BJP, donned yellow scarves, while the Samajwadi Party members wore red caps and pale-red ‘gamchas.’ They waved copies of the Hindi version of the Constitution.

Actor-politician Ravi Kishan of the BJP appeared in a dhoti-kurta, and Anita Chouhan, a first-term BJP member from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, chose traditional attire. Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Ram in the television serial Ramayan, greeted fellow members as he embarked on his political journey. Kangana Ranaut, another actor-politician, won her seat on a BJP ticket from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh and entered the Lok Sabha chamber wearing a white saree. Both Ranaut and Govil were seated in the eighth and ninth rows, respectively. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla occupied the third row.

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