PM Modi takes oath as MP, says “consensus is essential…”; Stronger Opposition walks into Parliament showing the Constitution Book to ‘humbled’ BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath as a Member of Parliament on Monday for the third consecutive time with the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha, the first session after elections. All the newly elected MPs will take oath as an MP over the next two days. Along with PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also took oath as MP amongst the others. The oath-taking happened at the new parliament, for the first time since the independence of India.

Before walking into the parliament PM Modi thanked the people for electing his government for the third consecutive time and also stressed on consensus “adhering to the principles of the constitution”. His remarks, as the opposition claims are in contrast to their previous experiences, as how more than 140 MPs were suspended from Parliament last December and yet bills were passed without any consensus. But in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections BJP was restricted to 240 seats and the Government at the centre is an alliance government of NDA, unlike the two previous Lok Sabhas where BJP alone was in the majority even without the NDA.

“This election has become immensely significant because, for the second time after independence, the people of the country have given an opportunity to a government to serve continuously for the third time. This occasion has come after 60 years, marking a momentous event in itself. When the people of the country have chosen a government for the third consecutive term, it means they have endorsed its intentions, they have endorsed its policies”, said the Prime Minister, further adding that “while a government requires majority to govern, consensus is essential to run the country. Therefore, our continuous effort will be to serve Mother India, taking everyone along, fulfilling the aspirations of 1.4 billion citizens”.

Modi’s remarks came days after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, following the election results, reminded that “opposition isn’t the enemy” and “there is no room for arrogance in power”.

The Prime Minister also stoked the memories of the ‘emergency’, highlighting June 25, 2024, which will mark the fifty years of what he defined as a “blot on democracy”.

“Today we are meeting on June 24. Tomorrow is June 25, which is dedicated to the dignity of the Constitution of this country, for those who are dedicated to the democratic traditions of India, June 25 is an unforgettable day. Tomorrow, June 25, marks the 50th anniversary of the black spot on India's democracy. The new generation of India will never forget that the Constitution of India was completely rejected. The strings of the Constitution were torn apart, the country was turned into a jail, and democracy was completely suppressed”, PM Modi said launching his attack on the Congress.

Soon after Modi’s 14 minutes long speech ahead of the session, the INDIA alliance opposition members led by Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress’ Sudip Bandyopadhyay walked into the Lok Sabha holding the Constitution book in their hands, as a mark of protest. Opposition leaders of the INDIA bloc also staged a protest outside the Lok Sabha holding the Constitution book, almost in continuation of the election campaign that the opposition fought claiming the constitution of India was at risk if “Modi came back to power with brute majority”.​