Oppn performing stunts behind student protests, govt ready for debate: Maha Dy CM Shinde

New Delhi, Aug 7 (AHN) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde on Friday accused the Congress of staging political stunts outside the Parliament demanding the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation under the guise of student agitation.

He said that the former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned accepting moral responsibility after the recent Jantar Mantar protest in New Delhi.

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde was speaking to reporters after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday, holding hour-long discussions on various issues.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that while the Union government is fully ready for debate in the Parliament, the Opposition continues to indulge in political stunts outside.

He added that while the student protest at Jantar Mantar was ongoing, the Congress conspired and demonstrated outside PM Narendra Modi's residence.

"Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on moral grounds after the Jantar Mantar demonstration, after which the agitation concluded and students returned to their routine."

"Expressing that youth are the future of the nation, the Prime Minister took decisive steps out of respect for them and directly interacted with them. However, Congress and other opposition parties continue to demand Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation. The Congress avoids Parliamentary debate and prefers political grandstanding outside," Deputy CM Shinde said, while criticising the Opposition INDIA bloc.

He also took a swipe at the Opposition, asking whether Congress is demanding the Home Minister's resignation because Amit Shah eradicated Naxalism, abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and eliminated Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India.

He remarked that Union Home Minister Shah does not need lessons in patriotism from anyone else.

"Rather than political stunts, the Opposition should enter the House and debate with the Union government, which remains fully open to discussion," Deputy CM Shinde urged.

He added that all political parties should support key legislation like women's reservation, noting that constituency delimitation is the need of the hour and requires bipartisan cooperation to deliver justice to the public beyond political motives.

Targeting Shiv Sena-UBT over the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court regarding the party name and symbol, Deputy CM Shinde remarked that they must decide whether they trust the Judiciary or not.

He noted that during earlier apex court hearings, they were celebrating and alleging that the Chief Minister's election (Devendra Fadnavis) was unconstitutional.

"However, the MahaYuti government was formed within the legal framework, and former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had clarified that the Maharashtra government was 'not unconstitutional'. Therefore, they are simply playing the same old record again," Deputy CM Shinde remarked.

He added: "both the tenure of the MahaYuti government and the MLAs' term have ended, questioning what era those demanding the disqualification of MLAs are living in. Those who claimed they would seek justice in the court of the people were shown their place during elections, where the public accepted the current (MahaYuti) alliance. Shiv Sena's strength increased from 40 to 60 MLAs."

Reiterating respect for democracy and faith in the judicial system, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde refrained from further comment on the sub-judice matter.

Earlier on Friday morning, Prime Minister Modi invited newly joined Shiv Sena MPs over for breakfast, assuring them: "Do not worry; focus on development works in your constituencies," the statement said.