'PM in office since 12 years, Nehru spent same number of years in jail for country': Priyanka
New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday took on the BJP-led government during a debate on Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha, questioning its intention and asking it to address people's issues instead of delving into the past, while putting up a strong defence for Jawaharlal Nehru against attacks from the ruling side.
Here are some of the top quotes from Priyanka Gandhi's speech:
* This song has become a part of the nation's soul; it has resided in the hearts of the people of the country for 150 years.
* We are having this debate here today for two reasons. Firstly, the Bengal elections are approaching, and our Prime Minister wants to play his role in them. And the second reason is...that the government wants an opportunity to level new accusations against those who fought for freedom, who made great sacrifices for the country, and it wants to divert the country's attention from the burning issues of the people.
* The truth is that today Modi is no longer the Prime Minister he used to be. The truth is, it has become evident that his self-confidence is waning, his policies are weakening the country, and my colleagues in the ruling party are silent because, deep down, they too agree with this.
* The PM gives good speeches but he is weak on facts.
* Questioning the form of Vande Mataram, which was accepted by the Constituent Assembly, is not only an insult to those great personalities who made this decision with their profound wisdom, but also reveals an anti-constitutional intent.
* I want to give him (the PM) a small piece of advice -- whatever complaints you have against Nehru ji, whatever mistakes you think he made, whatever abuses you want to hurl, whatever insults you want to inflict, make a list of all of them... 999 insults, 9,999 insults, make a list, and then we will fix a time. We will ask the Speaker, we will fix a time – 10 hours, 20 hours, 40 hours, however many hours it takes for your complaints to be fully addressed... so that you are satisfied and we can have a debate. As they say in English, 'once and for all, let's close the chapter'. Let's close it. The country will hear what the complaints are -- what did Indira ji do, what did Rajiv ji do, what is dynastic politics; what mistakes did Nehru ji make. After that, the issues of the day like unemployment, inflation and women's problems should be discussed.
* Today's debate is being conducted merely to distract attention, because this government wants to hide the current reality of this country.
* The truth is that their rule is a rule of oppression, their politics is politics of event management, a politics from one election to the next, a politics of various distracting issues. Vande Mataram is the cry of those very hopes of this country that your government is rejecting every day.
* By making this great mantra of our nation's soul a subject of controversy, you are committing a big sin. The Congress party will not be a party to this. This national song, Vande Mataram, has always been dear to us, has always been sacred to us, and will forever remain sacred to us.
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Delhi HC asks Centre to hear affected persons before demolishing structures in Ajmer dargah
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Centre to give a hearing to affected persons before taking any precipitative steps, including dismantling and demolishing structures within and outside the premises of Dargah Khwaja Saheb in Ajmer.
The court also directed the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs to expedite the formation of Ajmer Sharif Dargah Committee.
"Let the same be done as expeditiously as possible," Justice Sachin Datta said.
The court said before taking any precipitative steps on the basis of authorities' November 22 order, the principles of natural justice shall be adhered to followed by an opportunity of hearing and a reasoned order shall be issued to each of the parties.
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The court was hearing a plea by Syed Meharaj Miya, a 'khadim' of the dargah, seeking quashing of an order issued by the ministry on November 22 for the removal of unauthorised, unapproved and illegal encroachments in the dargah premises.
The counsel for the Centre said there are illegal encroachments and temporary structures have been created in the courtyard in which people have put in tables and chairs. He said these people will bring their goods and sell them here which will cause obstructions to the devotees.
"There is a security concern. We are supposed to secure the place. A festival is going to be celebrated at the dargah this month and five lakh people are expected to visit," the Centre's counsel submitted.
To this, the court said, "What about compliance with principles of natural justice before you remove something. You cannot just go with a bulldozer and wipe everything out."
The court said on November 6 that had directed the government to expedite the process of appointment of the members of the dargah committee, preferably within three months.
"You can't sit on it. I gave you three months, that does not mean you will do it on the 90th day. Till then if you want to take any precipitative step, you have to give an individual notice to the person concerned," the judge said.
The petitioner's counsel contended that the authorities have ordered sweeping administrative action infringing upon the fundamental rights of a large section of persons.
He said the impugned actions are sought to be taken in utter denial of the principles of natural justice without even affording an opportunity of hearing to the affected parties.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on February 23.
