Bengaluru, 30 Aug

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday questioned retired High Court judges’ involvement in the ongoing process to elect the Vice President, criticising their signature campaign and comments against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Rijiju said, "Some retired judges have written something against the Home Minister. This is not good. The election for Vice President is a political matter — why should retired judges interfere? It gives an impression that they had a distinct ideology even when they were judges. This is not right to launch a signature campaign against the Home Minister and write a letter".

The minister also accused Congress leaders of using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We are democratic people and we speak with respect, but Opposition leaders — be it Rahul Gandhi or some MPs, including Mahua Moitra— have resorted to invective. (This) is not good for the nation's future," he said.

Rijiju added that the Congress was blaming the Election Commission (EC) for its losses.

"What's the point in abusing the EC if people are not voting for you?" he said. "It's not our fault that people don't like you (Rahul Gandhi)."

"The people of India will never give an opportunity to a person who has such kind of thinking and uses filthy language," he remarked.

Later addressing advocates of the Karnataka High Court on 'Parliamentary System in the Largest Democracy in the World', Rijiju said that pressure must be applied if a party leader shows no interest in debates and discussions and instead resorts to ruckus and political theatrics.

The disruptions in Parliament result in a loss for the MPs, not the government, which enjoys majority.

“The government will push through its bills whenever required, but the loss is for the members, particularly Opposition MPs,” he said.