Opposition Was Mimicking Veep During Parliament Debate: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday attacked the opposition for "boycotting" a debate in Parliament on the three criminal law bills by "making excuses" and also hit out at them for mimicking the vice president.

He was addressing a gathering during the inauguration of several development projects here.

"I wanted the opposition to give their views on them," the Union minister said, referring to the criminal law bills.

"But it was unfortunate that the opposition decided to take an unfortunate decision of boycotting the discussion on this bill by making excuses... When a debate was taking place on bringing a change in the criminal justice system, opposition members were mimicking the vice president outside Parliament," he said.

Mr Shah was referring to what was happening outside the House where Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee mimicked Mr Dhankhar during the opposition's protest on the stairs of Parliament on Tuesday against the suspension of MPs. "Nothing can be more condemnable than this," Mr Shah added.

He also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for videographing the mimicry act.

"A prominent leader of a party like the Congress was making a video of it and making fun of it," Mr Shah said.

Several governments came and went, but the dignity of constitutional posts has always been maintained, he said.

Those who give sermons on the "footpath of Parliament" should understand that people are watching their attack on the dignity of constitutional posts, Mr Shah said.

Be it in power or the opposition, the BJP has never disrespected a person sitting on a constitutional post, the Union minister said.

On December 21, both Houses of Parliament passed the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill. These three bills seek to replace the existing Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Evidence Act.

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