INC MP Imran Pratapgarhi says that instead of providing houses over people’s heads, the centre is bulldozing homes as well as democracy. 

How is it ‘s abka saath. sabka vikas,’ when you have taken away the Maulana Azad fellowship, taken away from the Minority Affairs department, he asks. 

He highlights that the Finance Minister mentioned that some trains are being converted to Vande Bharat trains, but questions why nothing is being said about railway security, mentioning the Balasore accident. He also says that the condition of stations and railway coaches is poor. 

You make films tax-free but don’t waive examination for students, he says. Prime Minister Modi speaks about the ‘new’ middle class, but how do you treat the current middle class, he asks? 

He says that the youth is angry, and no provisions have been made for them in the interim budget. 

There is no place for foodgrains for the poor in this Amrit Kaal budget, he says, asserting that it will be the last budget of this government. 

Dr. John Brittas, CPI (M) MP from Kerala, says that he is a “little sad” that the President has been made to read out the election manifesto of the BJP. As expected there has been mention of Ayodhya thrice, he says, adding that without mention of Ayodhya and Prime Minister the speeches of treasury benches are not complete. 

He says that we are passing through difficult times— astrology will teach you science, godmen will teach you technology, Amit Shah will teach you harmony between State and Centre. All of a sudden, BJP has become law-abiding, he says, noting that they are referring to Supreme Court. Are they afflicted with selective amnesia, he asks, highlighting that the same Supreme Court has said that there was a conspiracy, calculated act and egregious violation. It also said that the desecration in 1949 leading to the ouster of Muslims, and its eventual destruction on December 6, constituted a serious violation of law, he highlights, saying that this has been done by the BJP. 

They all speak about Ram, Ram belongs to us also, he not just yours, he says. My Ram is Mahatma Gandhi’s Ram, of compassion, of harmony and love, he says, adding that “You also have a Ram, but there is a prefix to that”- their Ram is Nathu-ram .That is the difference between our Ram and your Ram, he says. Nowadays we cannot distinguish between the Prime Minister and the high priest—if there is a political programme, it will be turned into a religious programme and vice-versa, he says. 

They all accused us of staying away from Ayodhya, he says, highlighting that the Shankaracharyas also stayed away. They stayed away because they didn’t want to be part of the political drama being whipped up there, he asserts. 

He highlights that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel banned the RSS on February 4, the eve of today. He also says that he was sad to see the President being paraded behind a Sengol, asking if it is a modern, democratic country and saying that Sardar Patel would be turning in his grave, since he was instrumental in doing away with signs of monarchy. 

I am tired of hearing sabka saath, sabka vikas, he says, asking who they are supporting. The primary duty of the Prime Minister is to give pran to the citizens, not the gods, he should obviously stick to his duties, he should go to Manipur and conduct pran pratishta for the citizens, he says. Don’t create political drama to just get some votes, he says. 

The pastime of BJP-RSS is dismantling institutions, he asserts.