Standoff continues, Oppn takes out 'Tiranga March', boycott tea meet

With the Budget Session of Parliament set to conclude today, the Opposition parties took out a 'Tricolour March' from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk, alleging that "democracy is under attack" by the BJP.

13 opposition parties, who took part in the march, also boycotted Speaker's customary tea gathering.

While the opposition has been unrelenting in its demand for a JPC, the treasury benches are demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his democracy is under attack remarks in London.

Addressing a joint press conference of opposition leaders at the Constitution Club after the "Tiranga March", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Narendra Modi government of not walking the talk on democratic principles and causing disruptions in Parliament to divert attention from the Opposition's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue.

He said the government talks a lot about democracy, but it does not follow what it says, and asserted that the Opposition was unitedly fighting for democracy and the Constitution.

"The budget of Rs 50-lakh crore was passed in just 12 minutes, but they (BJP) always allege that the opposition parties have no interest and they keep disturbing the House," Kharge said.

"The disturbance was created by the ruling party. Whenever we made a demand, we were not allowed to speak. This has happened for the first time in my public life of 52 years and never has such a thing happened earlier," he said.

The government's "intention was to get the Budget Session washed out and we condemn this attitude", the Congress chief said and added that "if this continues, democracy will be finished and we will move towards dictatorship".

He said the issues raised by 18 to 19 opposition parties was on the Adani matter and how his wealth increased to Rs 12 lakh crore in just a period of 2 to 2.5 years.

"Why are you fearing from constituting a joint parliamentary committee probe even when the BJP will have its say as it will have majority members...Something is fishy, that is why the government is not agreeing to order a JPC probe into the Adani issue," Mr Kharge said.

He said the government did not answer on the Adani issue in Parliament and instead diverted attention by demanding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's apology over his remarks in the UK.