'Stop the murder of democracy', protests Congress in Rajya Sabha over Goa govt formation

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Friday raised the issue of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forming government in Goa despite not having majority in Parliament. The Congress raised slogans of 'loktantra ki hatya band karo, band karo' (stop the murder of democracy) in the Upper House.

"The Governor's conduct can only be discussed on the basis of a substantive motion," said Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien.Replying to Singh, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the BJP is ready to discuss the issue if the Congress Party brings substantive motion on the same. 

Earlier on Friday, Singh took to Twitter saying that he would raise the issue of Goa government formation in Parliament.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar won the trust vote on Thursday by 22-16 in the in 40-member state Assembly. Later, he took some sharp digs at Singh, saying the Congress leader had sought to create a hype over the situation in the coastal state as he was "worried" about losing his party post if he failed in the number games.

However, after the floor test, Singh also lamented that money power proved stronger than people's power finally. "Finally Money Power proves to be stronger than People's Power. People of Goa defeated BJP but those who got elected on anti BJP vote sold Goa to BJP. Sad," he tweeted. 

Earlier today, he also took a jibe at rebel legislator Vishwajit Rane who quit the party after the floor test on Thursday, he alleged that Rane was sipping coffee with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar when the grand old party was choosing its legislative party leader.

(With agency inputs)