India\u2019s new leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that his lawmakers would not be silenced, in his first speech since formally taking up a post vacant for a decade. Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s chief rival, was appointed by fellow opposition lawmakers to the post in a signal of a reinvigorated challenge to the government. \u201cThe government has political power, but the opposition also represents the voice of India\u2019s people,\u201d Gandhi said in a speech in the lower house of parliament, accompanied by supportive thumps by his party\u2019s lawmakers on their desks. \u201cThis time, the opposition represents significantly more voice of the Indian people.\u201d In the past two parliaments, Gandhi\u2019s once-mighty Congress party did not have enough seats in the legislature to qualify him for the post. Modi\u2019s first two terms in office followed landslide wins for his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), allowing his government to drive laws through parliament with only cursory debate. However, the BJP won only 240 seats in this year\u2019s poll, its worst showing in a decade and 32 seats below a majority. That forced it to rely on coalition allies to build a 293-seat majority in the 543-seat lower house. Modi, 73, on Monday appealed to an emboldened opposition for \u201cconsensus\u201d following his election setback. \u2018Defend the constitution\u2019 Gandhi, 54, defied analysts\u2019 expectations and exit polls to help his Congress party nearly double its parliamentary numbers. It was its best result since Modi swept to power in 2014, and rescued it from the political wilderness. \u201cWe would like the house to function often and well,\u201d Gandhi told veteran BJP lawmaker Om Birla, the speaker in the previous parliament, who was reelected on Wednesday to the post. \u201cIt is very important that cooperation happens on the basis of trust,\u201d he added. \u201cIt is very important that the voice of the opposition is allowed to be represented in this house.\u201d Modi\u2019s BJP remains in control of all key cabinet posts, but analysts say he will be forced to seek consensus within his coalition to push more contentious legislation through parliament. Gandhi told Birla that the speaker\u2019s role was not only to facilitate the passing of laws, but also to ensure democratic debate flourished. \u201cThe question is not: How efficiently the house is run? The question is: How much of India\u2019s voice is being allowed to be heard in this house?\u201d Gandhi said. \u201cThe idea that you can run the house efficiently by silencing the voice of the opposition is a non-democratic idea,\u201d he added. \u201cThis election has shown that the people of India expect the opposition to defend the constitution of this country.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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