How will C.P. Radhakrishnan lead the Rajya Sabha and the nation?

Dehradun, Sep 10 (NationPress) Following the election of NDA candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan as the new Vice President, Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat remarked on Wednesday that it is yet to be determined how he plans to advance the country and manage the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

In an interview with IANS, Rawat stated: "Let us observe how he intends to progress the nation and how he manages the Rajya Sabha. Recently, we have witnessed some unprecedented actions in the Rajya Sabha - occurrences that are unlike anything we have seen before. If the Vice President honors traditional values by engaging both the ruling party and the opposition equally, it will yield a very positive effect."

Rawat continued, "The Prime Minister and the President have commended this approach, but whether this is reflected in their actions remains to be seen. We have experienced instances where the Vice President appeared to act more as a spokesperson for the BJP. A significant question that the nation must pose to the BJP is: why did a person elected with a two-thirds majority resign mid-term? Was his resignation voluntary, or was it coerced? These inquiries linger in suspicion, and their implications will undoubtedly influence the operations of the Rajya Sabha and, by extension, the political landscape of the nation," he added.

On the topic of cross-voting during the Vice-Presidential election, Rawat acknowledged its occurrence but asserted that it did not substantially affect the final results.

"Indeed, cross-voting occurred. The leaders of the INDIA bloc will investigate it. However, it had no significant impact on the voting trends. This election has reaffirmed the unity of the INDIA bloc. Several leaders who were previously outside the bloc rallied to support the INDIA bloc candidate," he explained.

Regarding the political turmoil in Nepal, Rawat described the situation as "tragic and distressing," emphasizing that protests led by the youth serve as a warning for political leaders.

"The youth protesting in frustration is a signal and a lesson. Nepal must reflect on why demonstrators are damaging their own cultural heritage. Our relationship with Nepal is strong, but the destruction of property, including the home of a former Prime Minister’s wife, is unacceptable," he said.

When asked if a similar scenario could unfold in India, Rawat replied: "India has a resilient democracy. If the resigned Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli had adhered to democratic principles, such a crisis would not have arisen. It was Oli’s pride that incited these protests."