New Delhi, May 9: Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju reacted strongly on Saturday to allegations made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghosh. Ghosh claimed that BJP MPs were absent during the tribute ceremony for the renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.
In a post on the social media platform X, Ghosh stated that no BJP MP attended the floral tribute ceremony in Parliament, nor was the Lok Sabha Speaker present. She emphasized that for the BJP, seizing power in Bengal takes precedence over honoring Tagore, who is merely an electoral tool for leaders like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. For the TMC, Bengal is a beloved homeland, and Gurudev Tagore is a guiding figure. Jai Bangla.
In response, Rijiju posted on X, asserting that Ghosh, despite being an MP, lacks understanding of parliamentary procedures. He explained that when Parliament is not in session, any MP in Delhi can pay tribute to notable figures on their anniversaries. He added that some BJP veterans were present in Parliament, but they did not politicize the absence of Congress and TMC members.
The tribute to Tagore on Saturday coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal’s new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and several cabinet colleagues, turning the event into a political debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other cabinet members, along with chief ministers from 20 states under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), attended the swearing-in ceremony in central Kolkata.
This marked the first time a Prime Minister was present at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata for such an event. Tagore’s birthday was celebrated on the 25th of the first month of the Bengali calendar, which fell on Saturday.
Before the swearing-in ceremony, TMC’s social media handles circulated messages suggesting that the BJP was attempting to disrupt the celebrations.
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