New Delhi, February 4: Priyanka Chaturvedi, a member of the Rajya Sabha from Shiv Sena (UBT), has voiced her concerns regarding the recent appointment of a new Chief Minister in Manipur, the Supreme Court petition filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee concerning SIR, and the India-U.S. trade deal. She stated that Manipur has become a ‘model case for undermining democracy.’
Chaturvedi criticized the suppression of democracy, the Constitution, and the people’s voice in Manipur, calling it deeply shameful. She questioned the lack of fresh elections following the imposition of President’s Rule in the state, noting that decisions about the Chief Minister were made through backdoor negotiations, denying the public their right to vote after violence and chaos.
She highlighted that the previous Chief Minister was retained, only for President’s Rule to be suddenly imposed at night. Subsequently, the President’s Rule was lifted with parliamentary approval, and a new Chief Minister was appointed without elections. She described this as a dangerous precedent for democracy.
Regarding parliamentary proceedings, Chaturvedi remarked that it has been a tradition to allow the opposition to voice their concerns, with the ruling party responding. However, she accused the current government of silencing opposition voices. She emphasized that the opposition’s role is to bring the truth to the public, ensure accountability, and maintain transparency in governance, all of which are currently lacking.
Referencing Rahul Gandhi, she noted that he was reading a book in Parliament that the government was trying to suppress. This book, based on a former army chief’s experiences, discusses the clashes in the Galwan Valley. The government is preventing this truth from reaching the public, and even excerpts published by a magazine were blocked from being read.
On the Supreme Court petition regarding SIR filed by Mamata Banerjee, Chaturvedi expressed her support. She stated that while the Election Commission has the authority to implement SIR, the BJP is using it to push its agenda, infringing on voters’ rights.
She claimed that the implementation of SIR in Bihar has already stripped voters of their rights, and similar tactics are now being observed in Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Chaturvedi noted that Banerjee is attempting to hold the Election Commission accountable using the constitutional and legal rights available to opposition parties.
Chaturvedi labeled the India-U.S. trade deal as a ‘decree’ rather than a genuine agreement. She pointed out that for the first time in history, information about easing tensions between India and Pakistan came not from the Indian government but from the U.S. President’s social media. Similarly, the trade deal was announced abruptly. Under this agreement, goods exported from India to the U.S. will incur an 18% tariff, while imports from the U.S. will be duty-free. Donald Trump himself stated on social media that tariff and non-tariff barriers are being reduced to zero.
She further alleged that the agreement stipulates that India should not purchase oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. Over the past year, more than 10% of India’s oil imports have come from the U.S., and Indian companies recently signed an LNG supply agreement with the U.S.
Chaturvedi expressed concerns about bills related to nuclear energy and the space sector being rushed through without adequate discussion, benefiting U.S. interests. She also addressed farmers’ worries, stating that if the agricultural market is opened and foreign food products enter at zero tariffs, Indian farmers will suffer significant losses. While she welcomed the India-EU trade agreement as it was based on equal terms, she criticized the India-U.S. deal as unequal, unfair, and imbalanced, which is not in the country’s interest.
