New Delhi,
That the BJP is seething over former Vice-President Hamid Ansari’s controversial remarks on “insecurity among minorities” and “democracy turning into tyranny, if there’s no criticism” was evident today during the welcome of his successor M Venkaiah Naidu as the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

At least twice today, the name of former President Pranab Mukherjee was mentioned fondly by the BJP side, including the new Vice-President — an attempt perhaps to contrast Mukherjee, also a Congress nominee, who unlike Ansari flew into the sunset without making controversial observations about the present day dispensation.

The ruling party also hinted at different sets of rules being followed in the Rajya Sabha before 2014 (while the Congress-led UPA was in power) and after 2014 (during the tenure of the BJP-led NDA), but without naming Ansari.

Ansari, who yesterday quoted Dr S Radhakrishnan to say —“A democracy could degenerate into a tyranny, if free and frank criticism of government policies is not allowed”, had a day before expressed concerns about “unease” among minorities of the country, a reference to the alleged mob violence in the name of cow vigilantism.

Without naming him, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley today said: “Dr Radhakrishnan was quoted that Parliament cannot be the tyranny of the government… it also cannot be the tyranny of the Well.” The reference to the “Well” was to Congress-led Opposition’s attempt to stall the House.

So, a balance needed to be struck between issues of public importance and government policies, he added. On not allowing passing of Bills amid din, Jaitley said, “The principle has been most strictly adhered to post-2014. Prior to 2014 there was no such principle”.