In a bold Rajya Sabha intervention, NCP (SP) parliamentarian Fauzia Khan tore into Prime Minister Modi’s speech, calling it eloquent yet detached from truth. She urged a shift from lofty oratory to addressing core issues plaguing the nation.
‘Sure, it sounded impressive, but was it rooted in reality? How linked is it to the common man’s woes?’ Khan probed, emphasizing the absence of concrete fixes for everyday problems.
The Meghalaya coal mine disaster, where 18 miners perished, drew sharp focus. Khan labeled illegal mining the prime culprit, riddled with massive financial irregularities. ‘Central oversight is failing; contractors thrive while poor laborers pay with their lives,’ she charged, seeking immediate curbs.
Lashing out at Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s controversial remarks, Khan deemed the ‘Miyan’ slur and beggar taunts deplorable. She listed a series of hate-mongering tropes—buffalo thefts, mangalsutra snatches, voter purges—rhetorically asking, ‘Is this our democracy?’
Advocating ethical speech for leaders in high office, Khan warned that such language fractures society and erodes democratic ethos. She questioned parties’ aversion to Muslim politicians, calling out covert discrimination via communal jabs.
Referencing freedom fighters from diverse backgrounds, including those linked to Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, Khan stressed honoring all contributors. Her address painted a picture of a polity needing reform to prioritize unity and justice.