Good if he is going for 'prayashchit': Kapil Sibal on PM Modi's meditation in Kanyakumari
Chandigarh, May 29: Raising questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meditation at Rock Memorial from May 30 to June 1, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said it is good if he is going to Kanyakumari for "prayashchit" (atonement).
"The person who does not understand the meaning of 'vivek' (wisdom), what 'dhyan' (meditation) he will do.
"If he is going for 'prayashchit', then it is a good thing or if he is going to take inspiration from writings and speeches of Swami Vivekanand, even then it is good," said Sibal.
The prime minister will meditate from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where Vivekananda — a spiritual icon admired by PM Modi — is believed to have had a divine vision about ‘Bharat Mata’, BJP leaders said on Tuesday.
Sibal alleged the BJP-led government at the Centre does not talk about its achievements because it has "nothing to show".
"What have they done for the last 10 years? Has the prime minister said during his speeches what he did during 10 years? What are their achievements," Sibal said in a press conference here.
Sibal also slammed PM Modi for his 'mujra' remark against opposition leaders saying had there been any achievement to show, he would not have been talking about "mujra, mangalsutra...vote jihad".
Sibal alleged the BJP "failed" to deliver on the promises on which it rode to power.
"That is why they talk about 'mujra, 'mangalsutra', votebank politics, vote jihad... they say INDIA bloc will take away water taps, money from banks..." he said.
Sibal said before coming to power, PM Modi used to make "big speeches".
"He used to tell people that they gave 60 years to the Congress and give him 60 months and he will give a 'new India'. What 'new India' he has given now after 120 months (10 years)?" he asked.
Backing Congress' Lok Sabha candidate Manish Tewari, who is contesting from the Chandigarh parliamentary seat, Sibal said, "Chandigarh is my hometown and I studied here. I want people to elect a man who understands how the Parliament runs, who has a vision, one who understands the politics of the day and is deeply committed to the cause of people."
He said people of the country are facing several issues, which have to be addressed.
In several countries, the expenditure on education is somewhere between 9-12 per cent of the GDP, whereas in our country it is less than four per cent, the former Union minister said.
The unemployment rate between the ages of 25 to 30 is 46 per cent, and between the ages of 20 and 30, it is 29 per cent, he alleged.
Voting for the Chandigarh parliamentary seat is going to be held in the seventh and last phase of general elections on June 1.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
