BJP calls Manmohan Singh’s presence in Rajya Sabha ‘embarrassing’ even as Congress praises him

NEW DELHI: The Congress and the BJP are divided over the presence of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha during the debate on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment ) Bill, 2023, on Monday. While the opposition has praised the presence of Singh, the BJP has termed it “embarrassing”.
The Rajya Sabha debated the GNCTD (Amendment) Bill, commonly called Delhi services bill and moved by home minister Amit Shah, on Monday for over six hours till late in the evening before voting took place on it.
Singh, 90, attended the Rajya Sabha and silently watched the debate while sitting on a wheelchair at the entrance of the House. Later, he also took part in the voting process of the bill.
The former PM is a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan since August 20, 2019. His term ends on April 3, 2024. This is his sixth term in the Rajya Sabha and the first one from Rajasthan.
Earlier, Singh had been a member of the Upper House for five consecutive terms from Assam from October 1, 1991 to June 14, 2019. He was the PM of the country for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014, heading the Congress-led UPA government.
While the opposition MPs lauded Singh’s presence in the House, the BJP attacked the Congress for making him sit for long hours to keep their alliance alive. “The country will remember this craze of the Congress! The Congress kept a former Prime Minister sitting on a wheelchair late at night in the House even in such a state of health, and that too just to keep its dishonest alliance alive! Terribly embarrassing!”

But the opposition MPs had a different view. Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, in a tweet, said, “This is a moment rich in symbolism. A nonagenarian who has always put the nation first reminds us, by his presence despite ill health, of his commitment, dedication to duty and selflessness. Pranaams to Dr Manmohan Singh.”
The Congress’s new ally, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, also had words full of praises for the former PM. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, in a tweet, said, “Today, in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh stood as a beacon of integrity and came especially to vote against the black ordinance. His unwavering commitment to democracy and the Constitution is a profound inspiration. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to him for his invaluable support. Thank you, sir.”

The opposition, under the umbrella of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, was against the bill which goes against the interests of the AAP government in Delhi.
The bill was passed by a division of votes. While 131 MPs voted in favour of the bill, 102 voted against it.