The Chandigarh Mayor elections controversy has come under the lens of the Supreme Court, which has declared that it would not allow the “murder of democracy” and ordered the Registrar General to secure all the records by 5 pm today. The court will hear the case on February 12.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said what the returning officer did “was like the murder of democracy”.

“It is obvious that he defaced the ballot papers. “⁠It is clearly visible in the video that he is looking into the camera and spoiling the ballot paper… Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. This man should be prosecuted,” the Chief Justice said.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Mohabbat ki dukaan” slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Congress’s “dukaan” — meaning shop — is shutting down due to its efforts to “launch the same product over and over”.

The Prime Minister was speaking in Parliament during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s address at the beginning of budget session.

Targeting the Congress and the Gandhi family, the Prime Minister said it is the Congress that is responsible for the state of the Opposition. “They failed and didn’t allow other parties to perform either. They have ruined the parliament, the Opposition and the country. I believe the country needs a strong Opposition. The country has faced the ramifications of dynasty politics, and the Congress has faced it too,” he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, he said, had shifted from Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha. “Ghulam Nabi Azad shifted from the party altogether because of Parivarvaad. Efforts to launch the same product again and again are shutting down the Congress’s dukaan,” he said.

He told the Opposition that “dukaan” is their word, not his. In his nationwide campaign accusing the BJP of spreading hate, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly said that he wants to open “Mohabbat ki dukaan” in a market of hate.

In another dig at Mr Gandhi, he said the Congress had recently learnt the work of an automobile mechanic — an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi’s visit to a bike repair shop at Delhi’s Karol Bagh. “The Congress has recently learnt the work of an auto mechanic, so they know what alignment is. But the alignment in the alliance has gone awry.” the Prime Minister said, referring to troubles within INDIA bloc months ahead of polls. 

Doubling down on his dynasty politics charge, the Prime Minister defended his colleagues Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah from counter-attacks from the Opposition. While Rajnath Singh’s son is an Uttar Pradesh MLA, Mr Shah’s son is the secretary of Board of Cricket Control in India.

“When a family runs a party and preference is given to a family, that is parivaarvaad. Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah do not run a party. For the country’s democracy, dynasty politics is a cause of concern. If two or 10 people from a family progress, I respect that, but here a family runs a party,” he said.

He also accused the Congress of resorting to a “cancel culture” and mindlessly criticising every move of the central government. “The Congress is stuck in a cancel culture. It says cancel to Make in India, Vocal for Local, Vande Bharat. I’m surprised. There’s so much hate that the country’s achievements are getting cancelled,” he said.

A combative Prime Minister Narendra Modi ripped into the opposition Monday – taking special aim at the Congress – ahead of a general election due in less than three months, declaring the party “would have taken 100 more years” to achieve what his BJP had done in the past 10 years.

“Our goals are big and the world is seeing that. The pace at which work is progressing in India… Congress can’t even imagine it. We built four crore houses for poor people… 80 lakh pukka houses. It would’ve taken 100 years for Congress to get this work done…” the Prime Minister said.

Responding to the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s speech last week, Prime Minister Modi fired a series of sharp jibes and jabs – met with cheers and thumping of desks by his MPs – at the Congress, which he held “responsible for the state of the opposition today”.

“They (the Congress) failed and didn’t allow other parties to perform… They have ruined Parliament, the opposition, and the country. I believe the country needs a strong opposition,” he said, as he taunted his rivals for having “lost the will to fight…” “They will sit there for more time to come.”

Mr Modi also took a dig at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi – who remains the de facto prime ministerial face of his party despite two consecutive Lok Sabha election defeats – and his “mohabbat ki dukaan” slogan. “They are trying to launch one product again and again…” he chuckled.

The Prime Minister also attacked former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, declaring the Congress had “never trusted India’s potential”. “Nehru said, ‘In India there is no habit of working hard (like) Europeans, Americans.’ This shows Nehru belittled Indians…” Mr Modi declared.

Mr Modi’s attacks on the Congress are significant given the party is, nominally, the head of the INDIA bloc formed in July last year, which is supposed to unite the opposition in a bid to defeat the BJP.

The INDIA bloc, however, has struggled to overcome seat-sharing problems, with key members – like the Trinamool, the AAP, and the Samajwadi Party, challenging the Congress citing the national party’s abysmal record in recent elections. In fact, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – seen as a founding member of INDIA – last month walked out of the grouping and re-aligned with the BJP

Exuding confidence, the Prime Minister began his speech with taunts aimed at an opposition that has, by and large, failed to beat his BJP in elections over the past decade. “… can say it is clear they will sit there (gesturing to the opposition benches) for more time to come,” he chuckled.

“I can see many in the opposition have lost hope… strength to even fight elections. I’ve heard many want to go to Rajya Sabha instead of Lok Sabha. The President’s address is, in a way, based on facts and truth… and is a big proof of reality that is presented in front of people,” the Prime Minister said.

“Look at the Congress’ situation. (Congress chief Mallikarjun) Kharge had to move the House and (former leader) Ghulam Nabi Azad had to leave the party,” he continued

The PM also exploded in anger when an opposition MP complained the President’s speech did not mention minorities. “According to you women and farmers are not minorities? Till when will you keep dividing society?”