Title of Veer given to Savarkar by 140 cr Indians, Amit Shah slams Congress in Rajya Sabha

Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday delivered a key speech on the Constitution Day discussion in Rajya Sabha. "On one hand, this debate will make people realise how the country has moved forward because of the Constitution, and on the other hand, it also makes us realise that it is because of the basic sentiments of the Constitution that the very foundations of democracy have been deepened in the last 75 years," he said.

"In the last 75 years, there have been many nations nation that became independent and had new beginnings but democracy did not succeed there. But our democracy is deep-rooted. We made numerous changes without shedding a drop of blood. The people of this country have shattered the arrogance of multiple dictators and that too democratically," he added.

The Congress expressed strong opposition on Tuesday regarding the simultaneous polls bill, labelling it as contrary to federalism and unconstitutional. The party highlighted that the BJP's voting numbers during the bill's introduction in Lok Sabha demonstrated their lack of the necessary two-thirds majority for passing a constitutional amendment. The Lok Sabha witnessed the introduction of two bills outlining the framework for concurrent elections, following a heated debate.

"Anti-constitutional bill, it is against the federalism of our nation. We are opposing the bill," said Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra whilst speaking to reporters at Parliament.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the government's approach, noting that the introduction stage voting revealed the BJP's insufficient numbers for a constitutional amendment passage.

Tharoor elaborated on the opposition's stance, questioning the logic behind state governments' dissolution upon central government's fall. He emphasised that fixed terms were discontinued in 1969 due to India's parliamentary structure, which accommodates various Houses, majorities, and coalitions.

He further explained that modifying the current system would be ineffective, as similar complications would arise when future governments lose majority support. Tharoor stressed that the day's voting demonstrated the BJP's lack of required numbers for constitutional amendments.

Regarding the parliamentary process, Tharoor noted that whilst the government might structure the joint committee to their advantage, the absence of a two-thirds majority would prevent constitutional amendments.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore observed that the bills' introduction revealed the BJP's numerical inadequacy. He suggested that a formal vote would have resulted in the bills' rejection due to the two-thirds majority requirement.

The bills' introduction proceeded after opposition members requested a division of votes. The electronic voting system, utilised for the first time in the new Parliament House, recorded 269 supporters and 198 opponents, with additional verification through paper slips.