Jyotiraditya Scindia and Neeraj Shekhar make a strong pitch for the Union Government in Parliament

New Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia and Neeraj Shekhar, son of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, were seen in the Rajya Sabha making a strong pitch for the ruling dispensation in the Budget session of Parliament.

Mr Scindia, who was the architect of the formation of the new BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, even directed his tirade against the Congress for the infamous national emergency imposed in 1975. Applauding Prime Minister Modi for his consensus approach and taking citizens into confidence to fight Corona, Scindia said: “This lockdown had people’s approval and they had overwhelmingly responded to one leader’s appeal. But we also had a lockdown in 1975 when Emergency was imposed and the entire country was turned into a jail”.

Scindia said, “Sir, what I am starting today, I used to say when I was on the other side (meaning Congress).

He took the battle into the opposition camp very forcefully when he said, “One leader (Akhilesh Yadav) even had said that he will not anti corona vaccination of the BJP”.

Such a mindset should go, he emphasized during the debate on Motion of Thanks to President’s address.

Neeraj Shekhar for his part said it was astonishing that some politicians also take exception on why the Prime Minister has not shaved and has kept his beard long. Taking a dig at the Trinamool Congress camp, he said, “….and you said your leader wears chappal (sandal), but that will not make someone Mahatma Gandhi.

In fact, the Rajya Sabha witnessed some light moments punctuated with laughter when Congress lawmaker Digvijaya Singh told Jyotiraditya Scindia that whichever party the latter would go, he will continue to get his (Digviyaya’s) blessings.

Earlier, Singh used the words ” wah Maharaj” in the salutation of Jyotiraditya for his articulate speech and the former Gwalior MP also folded hands and said, whatever skills he has it’s always due to blessings from seniors like Digvijaya Singh.

Both Scindia and Digvijaya were rivals to each other in Madhya Pradesh.

It was last year that Scindia’s traditional bastion Gwalior faced a tough fight in 2019 polls and the scion of the Scindia’s, Jyotiraditya was humbled in the 2019 general elections.

Former leaders from other parties are more often warmly welcomed by the BJP and they are given vital responsibilities both in the government (s) and in the party organisation.