The former prime minister delivered his inaugural address as a newly elected member of Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
Former Prime Minister of India HD Deve Gowda was sworn in on Sunday as a member of Rajya Sabha. This, after he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections of the Tumakuru constituency and his party nominated him to the Upper House. But his inaugural address as the new sworn member of Rajya Sabha was marred by constant interruptions and the Speaker of the House, Vice President Harivansh, also repeatedly urged him to conclude the 10-minute speech, even asking the next speaker to begin while Deve Gowda he was still talking.
His party, JD (S), was very offended by the incident and called it an insult to Karnataka. Speaking to TNM, TA Sharavana, JD (S) spokesperson said: “There are only two former prime ministers in Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh and Deve Gowda. The Kannadigas are no longer respected, even in the constituted culture committee, there were no South Indians. The Union Government takes Karnataka for granted, the state gave them 25 deputies but they still don’t care about us ”.
Deve Gowda began her speech by talking about farmers’ problems, namely the controversial agricultural bills in Parliament. As Gowda spoke of his experience as a politician in handling farmers’ problems, at the fourth minute, the Spokesman began asking him to conclude his speech. Many members of the government in power were also heard booing Deve Gowda, 87, asking him to finish his speech.
“It’s great that even at this age, he is there to represent our state. The Union government and the BJP MPs did not even allow him to deliver his speech and express his views. They kept asking him to stop talking and sit down, they kept interrupting. This is not just an insult to Deve Gowda, but to all the Kannadigas. That is why we ask voters to always vote for a regional party in power, we have always addressed issues that are important to the people of the state and we do not succumb to pressure from the higher ups like other national parties. Sharavana added.
Earlier that day, Deve Gowda had taken the oath in Kannada and greeted the chair with folded hands. The 87-year-old leader was elected in June to Karnataka’s Rajya Sabha. This is the first time that the JD (S) leader has become a member of the Upper House since 1996.
President M Venkaiah Naidu commented after Deve Gowda’s swearing-in ceremony that he is a “nice addition to our House.”
“The former prime minister and one of the most important leaders of our country has come to our House,” he said.
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