Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has launched a scathing attack against the Centre’s Narendra Modi government stating that the constitutional norms were unsafe under the ‘present establishment.’
Speaking to reporters near the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in the premises of parliament, Singh said, “Today, the way the Central Government has behaved in Maharashtra, it is not certain that the Constitutional norms are safe in the hands of the present establishment.”
A reporter reminded him that just when he was standing under the statue of Dr Ambedkar outside the parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was terming the constitution ‘very sacred’ inside the parliament. Singh replied, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” He implied that the central government headed by Modi did not walk the talk on the need to prtect the constitutional norms in the country.
Singh’s comments came moments after the Supreme Court ordered a floor-test inside the Maharashtra assembly by 5 PM on Wednesday. The former prime minister said that ‘whatever be the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, it has to be respected.’
Soon after Singh’s comments, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stunned everyone by announcing his resignation from his post anticipating a defeat on the floors of the house. His deputy, Ajit Pawar of the NCP, had earlier stepped down from his post.
Opposition parties led by Congress President Sonia Gandhi had boycotted the Constitution Day celebrations in the central hall of Parliament and held a joint protest in front of Ambedkar’s statue.