New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Leaders of several opposition parties on Wednesday felicitated their joint vice presidential candidate B Sudershan Reddy in the central hall of Samvidhan Sadan (old Parliament).

Introducing Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition parties decided to field someone who has been dedicated to constitutional principles and Reddy is one such person.

The leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha described Reddy as a "towering figure" in Indian jurisprudence and said he is renowned for his unwavering commitment to justice.

Kharge said the former judge has been a fearless champion of social, economic, and political equality, delivering landmark judgments that have strengthened the fabric of India's democracy.

He said at a time when the integrity of our democratic institutions is facing unprecedented challenges, Reddy's nomination stands as a firm commitment to restoring fairness, impartiality, and dignity to the functioning of the Rajya Sabha, which, he alleged, has been in steady decline.

The Congress chief said in the last 11 years, the BJP government has discriminated against the Opposition.

"This vice presidential election is not merely a contest for an office; it is an ideological battle for the soul of our nation. While the ruling party has chosen the ideology of RSS, we uphold the Constitution and its values as our guiding light.

"B Sudershan Reddy embodies the timeless values of justice, equality, and inclusivity that fuelled India's freedom movement and form the bedrock of our Constitution," he said.

Kharge accused the government of passing bills in Parliament in haste and even amid walkout by opposition parties. He alleged that the Speaker has also played a role in this by not allowing MPs to speak.

Welcoming Reddy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said there is a war going on between those who are attacking the Constitution and those who are defending it.

"Justice Sudershan Reddy has decades of judicial and legal experience. As a champion of constitutional values, he is popular across party lines. Notably, he worked on the Telangana caste census and helped craft a vision for social justice in the state.

"I happened to look inside his pocket, and to my surprise, he had a copy of the Constitution of India. He carries it everywhere. He mentioned that he has been carrying the copy for 52 years and emphasized that in any conversation, the Constitution has the final say," Gandhi said.

He said Reddy was a wise and ideologically aligned person.

Gandhi said there is a lot of noise on the new bills the BJP is proposing.

"We are going back to medieval times when the king could just remove anybody at his will... If the government (BJP) didn't like someone's face, it could ask the ED to get them arrested, and a democratically elected person can be thrown out within 30 days," he said.

The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha claimed that the BJP after "stealing" Haryana and Maharashtra elections, will be able to "steal" Bihar polls but the public has now understood and will not allow that to happen.

Referring to the three bills introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament, Kharge said, "Constitutional Amendment Bill and others that undermine the core values of parliamentary democracy and federalism are being introduced in subterfuge at the fag end of the session, leaving no scope for meaningful debate or scrutiny." He said in the last 11 years, "we have witnessed the blatant misuse of parliamentary majority to arm the autonomous agencies like ED, I-T, and CBI with draconian powers to target opposition leaders".

"Now, these new bills are set to become instruments in the hands of the ruling party to further undermine and destabilise democratically elected governments in the states.

"In Parliament, we have seen a growing trend of stifling opposition voices. We are repeatedly denied the opportunity to raise matters of vital public concern in the House," he claimed.

Kharge noted that the credibility of India's democratic polity rests on Parliament serving as a robust forum where members freely and fairly articulate the grievances and aspirations of the people they represent.

"We, the opposition parties, stand united in our support for Shri Reddy. We are confident that his wisdom, integrity, and dedication will inspire and guide our nation toward a future rooted in justice and unity.

"We call upon every member of Parliament to join us in this historic endeavour to protect and preserve the values that make our democracy vibrant and resilient," Kharge said in an appeal to all MPs to support Reddy's candidature.

Parliament has been reduced to a tool for advancing the ruling party's ideology, with several important bills being passed amid din and without proper deliberation, he said.

Such actions erode the Parliament's role as an impartial and effective legislative forum, diminish public trust, and favour the treasury benches at the expense of equitable debate, he noted.

"To resist and decisively act against these transgressions in Parliament, the nation needs an exemplary impartial justice like Shri B Sudershan Reddy as the vice-president of India. His nomination represents our collective resolve to defend and uphold the democratic ideals that define India," the Congress chief said.

He also noted that Reddy's life and work reflect the spirit of Indian Constitution, a commitment to fairness, compassion, and the empowerment of every citizen.

"These principles will guide his leadership as vice president and chairman of the Rajya Sabha, ensuring that the House operates as a true bastion of democratic discourse," Kharge said.

Congress general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said they will hold a mock poll on September 8 to enable their MPs on how to vote during the vice presidential election on September 9.

Several opposition leaders including Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, NCP-SP leader Sharad Pawar, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, SS-UBT leader Sanjay Raut, CPI-M's John Brittas, and TMC's Shatabdi Roy were also present during the meeting. PTI AO SKC KVK KVK