'Congress should consider sending...': BJP slams Jairam Ramesh for 'live tweeting' during all-party meeting

Updated July 21, 2024, 7:22 PM IST

The BJP on Sunday lashed out at Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for “live tweeting” issues discussed at the all-party meeting convened by the central government.

Jairam Ramesh (Archive image)

HIGHLIGHTS

The BJP has criticised Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for “live tweeting” issues discussed at the all-party meeting.
On Sunday, an all-party meeting was called by the central government.
Leaders of several political parties including JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh and Ramesh attended the meeting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Congress Congress leader Jairam Ramesh live-tweeted on the issues discussed during the all-party meeting held on Sunday. The Congress leader also provided an insider’s view of the issues raised by different political parties during the meeting.

Reacting to Congress leader’s tweet, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya Malviya said that next time, the Congress should “consider sending a more experienced person” to these meetings. There are certain protocols for these meetings and these must be followed.

“There is a certain decorum and protocol that one associates with these all-party meetings. There is a free and frank exchange of ideas followed by a briefing with the media. But a glance at Jairam Ramesh’s timeline and it seems he was live-tweeting the proceedings,” the BJP IT cell chief said.

“Next time, Congress should consider sending someone more experienced to these meetings,” he added.

Sharing details of the all-party meeting, Ramesh highlighted a significant change in the political landscape regarding special category status for states.

“In today’s all-party meeting of Congress leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, JD(U) chief demanded special category status for Bihar. YSRCP chief demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, TDP chief remained silent on the issue,” the Congress leader tweeted.

Ramesh also highlighted a remarkable moment when the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader reminded Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) president JP Nadda of the BJP’s 2014 election manifesto, which had promised special category status to Odisha.

“How the political climate has changed! During the party leaders’ meeting, the BJP leader reminded Defence Minister and BJP president JP Nadda that the BJP’s manifesto for the 2014 Odisha assembly elections had promised special category status to the state,” Jairam Ramesh said in a message on X.

Sunday, before the budget sessionThe Union government has convened an all-party meeting in the national capital. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju held the meeting with leaders of different political parties to discuss the issues they plan to take up during the session. The monsoon session will begin on July 22 and will have 19 sittings till August 12. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the annual budget on Tuesday.

Leaders of several political parties including BJP president JP Nadda, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Congress MP and deputy LoP Gaurav Gogoi, LJP (Ramvilas) leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan, Jana Sena Party chief Bala Krishna, BJD leader Sasmit Patra, JDU leader Sanjay Jha and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi attended the meeting.

However, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders did not attend the all-party meeting as the leaders gathered in Kolkata for the annual Dharmatala rally. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also skipped the all-party meeting to attend the TMC rally in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Congress MP and Deputy Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi raised the issue of National Eligibility Test (NEET) in the all-party meeting. According to reports, Gogoi raised the issue of irregularities in NEET and the election of the Vice President. Gogoi also raised the issue of alleged misuse of central agencies like the ED and the CBI by the Union government.