Presidential address projected CAA as success: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Congress asks govt to bring bill to restore statehood to J&K

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday told mediapersons outside the Parliament that the opposition boycotted President Ram Nath Kovind’s address as it referred to the most divisive action taken by the government.

“It is extremely shameful that the government projected Citizenship Amendment Act as a success in the Presidential address at a time when the entire country is protesting against the act and thousands of people have been hurt in violent incidents. That’s why we boycotted President’s address and no leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, sat in the front row,” said Azad.

“The BJP orchestrated the violence and their ministers used unparliamentary language. We questioned the constitutional morality of some of the steps taken by the government which were discriminatory and divisive. Those should not have found any reference in the President’s address. Tomorrow the Budget will be presented, but we know that India is moving towards a deep economic recession,” he said, adding, “There was nothing new in his address today.”