DMK won’t back BJP on delimitation, will protect Tamil Nadu’s interests: Congress

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the DMK, despite differences with the Congress, has no ideological convergence with the BJP and would decide on the proposed delimitation Bill keeping Tamil Nadu's interests in mind. He also criticised the Centre over key Constitution amendment proposals

New Delhi: Despite being upset with the Congress, the DMK has no convergence of views with the BJP and would act on the Constitution amendment bill related to delimitation keeping in mind that it is against the interest of Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.

Speaking with PTI ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session starting Monday, the Congress general secretary in-charge communications claimed that the government not listing the Constitution amendment bills related to delimitation and the removal of ministers was part of “typical Modi-Shah strategy” as they will not do what they announce but will do what they don’t announce.

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“I’m not sure that they’ll bring the 129th Constitution amendment bill which is ‘One nation, One election’ in this session. They may bring it in the Winter Session but in this session, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that they will try to bulldoze through the 130th Constitution amendment bill which is about dismissal (of ministers, CMs),” he said.

Ramesh said that most of the opposition parties boycotted the joint parliamentary committee studying the bill on removal of prime minister and chief ministers detained on serious charges and asserted that even if the provision of dismissal is changed to suspension, the Congress will strongly oppose the bill.

“I think Supriya Sule has given a dissent note and so has Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi who was a member of the JPC. The entire opposition is against this bill,” he said.

“The 131st Constitution amendment bill (related to delimitation) which should be redone and revised after the humiliating defeat that the home minister suffered in not securing the two-thirds majority by a clear margin on the 17th of April. So those are the two bills that we are expecting and we are preparing for,” Ramesh said.

He further said that there are other controversial bills including the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, which has been opposed even by the TDP and many other parties of the NDA. There are universities run by the state but under this, all universities now will be controlled by the government of India, he said.

“This is constitutional overreach by the Modi government and there are many pernicious features. Even the IITs and the IIMs and many institutions of eminence have objected to the provisions of this bill,” Ramesh said.

Asked if he is confident that the entire opposition, including the DMK and the AAP, would oppose the Constitution amendment bill involving delimitation, the Congress leader said he is confident but added he does concede that the opposition suffered a setback with the spilt in the TMC and the Shiv Sena (UBT). “I’m confident and nothing has happened from the 17th of April to show that there is a convergence of views and mindsets of the DMK and the BJP. I think they’re fundamentally opposed to each other in terms of ideology and mindset,” he said.

Ramesh said he was daily in touch with all opposition parties and claimed that the delimitation bill was being brought keeping in mind only the 2029 elections.

“So even the compromises that are being dangled by Mr. Amit Shah to take into account the sentiments of some opposition parties, they are meaningless because there are certain provisions in the Constitution which will remain, which will override the compromises that are being mentioned by the home minister,” he said.

So, whatever is being proposed goes fundamentally against the interests of the states in southern India and western India and some states in northern India which have had successes in family planning, he said.

Ramesh pointed out that 24 political parties, including the DMK and the AAP, signed the opposition letter to the Chief Justice of India on the role of the EC and concerns over special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

“I mean I would it would be foolish to say that there was no setback. Yes, of course it is a setback. It is a setback that we could have done without but we had a setback for whatever reason, certain circumstances and compulsions forced us to take a particular decision in Tamil Nadu which had a logic of its own,” he said, referring to Congress switching allegiance to the TVK and breaking its alliance with the DMK. That affected or impacted the DMK’s approach, he added.

“I saw a statement that Mr (M K) Stalin has given which says that let’s wait for the bill, see and this is a reasonable request. Let’s see what is there in the bill first, we don’t know what provisions that or revisions that the home minister is proposing,” he said.

Remember, last time he made certain promises to a large number of opposition parties, he did not fulfil those promises because none of those promises were not reflected in the constitutional amendment bill that was defeated.

“DMK is a little upset with the Congress and has asked for a separate seating arrangement in Parliament but I am confident that when the time comes, the DMK would keep in mind that the game that is being played is not in the interest of southern states, including Tamil Nadu, federal structure and the basic structure of the Constitution,” he said.

“When the time comes, I am confident that the government will not be able to secure two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha,” Ramesh said. There is a challenge before the opposition but it is confident of succeeding, he added.

The government is likely to bring up crucial legislation, including a Constitution amendment bill on introducing delimitation and increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats, besides one pertaining to the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers and Union ministers on being jailed.