New Delhi: A heated political standoff unfolded in Parliament on Thursday, with senior opposition leaders, particularly Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, sharply criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his absence from the Lok Sabha during a key phase of the Budget Session. The controversy comes amid ongoing disruptions in the Lower House that have stalled normal proceedings.
Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of avoiding debate in the Lok Sabha, questioning why the Prime Minister did not appear when the House was set to take up his response to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. She said the Leader of the Opposition should be allowed to speak freely, alleging that the government was “scared” of issues raised by the Opposition — including references to sensitive topics and unpublished material cited by Rahul Gandhi.
Responding to a remark by Union Minister J.P. Nadda in the Rajya Sabha, where Nadda described Rahul Gandhi as “naive,” Priyanka Gandhi said such comments were inappropriate and emblematic of a broader problem of suppressing dissent in Parliament.
“Is this a way to talk about anyone? He should be allowed to speak. What are they scared of — that he will quote from a book? Or are they scared of the Epstein files? Or that we will question them about the India–US deal due to which farmers will suffer?” she asked.
Priyanka Gandhi was referring to reports circulating from Epstein files that made references to PM Modi and his visit to Israel. The government, has however, rubbished the claims as baseless and contemptible.
The Congress claims Rahul Gandhi has been prevented from completing his speech during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, reported India Today. On Monday, Rahul Gandhi was interrupted while trying to cite portions of former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, which he said raised issues of national security.
