Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi speaks to The Indian Express on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and the motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma.
The Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the Bihar electoral roll revision. Has the government responded so far?
We have not received any indication from the government about whether they are willing to discuss this issue. It is an issue related to the core of democracy. It is about a citizen’s right to vote… While the government publicly says they are willing to discuss any issue, during closed-door meetings, they have refused to even mention this issue, that it would be taken up for discussion.
Since the EC is conducting the Bihar roll revision, if a discussion happens, who will reply on its behalf?
It is for the government to decide… It is not for us to decide. We want a discussion, and we will not be fulfilling our responsibility if we let the government steal votes.
The Vice-President has quit and the Congress has said there’s more to it than meets the eye. What does that mean?
Principally, we have had differences with the Honourable V-P regarding proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. For us, principles of Parliamentary democracy are important and so is the dignity of a Constitutional post. And the sudden resignation, and the cryptic tweets of PM Narendra Modi. It shows the unease in the relationship between the government and the Constitutional post of V-P. It seems like a game of one-upmanship. And PM is displaying his political might in this decision. If the relationship were normal, the government would have known this was on the mind of the V-P and a smooth transition would have been ensured … The Congress will defend the dignity of a Constitutional post, especially when it is held by a farmer’s son …
Story continues below this ad
The process for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma was initiated by the government in the Lok Sabha. The Opposition led by the Congress introduced a similar motion in the Rajya Sabha.
When this matter came to light, the Opposition started discussing what options it had. In the Lok Sabha, we supported the motion. The Opposition also took the initiative to introduce a similar motion in the Rajya Sabha.
The Samajwadi Party, your key ally, is not supporting the motion.
We are in constant touch with the SP on all issues. Especially on issues that need to be discussed urgently, such as Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor, and Bihar SIR.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
