Parliament Paralysed as Congress Blocks PM Speech Over Rahul Gandhi ‘Gag’ Claim
Naravane memoir row triggers fresh showdown; Opposition vows to stall House till LoP is heard
- PM Modi’s Lok Sabha reply scrapped amid Congress-led disruptions
- Congress alleges Rahul Gandhi barred from speaking on President’s Address
- Gen MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir sparks national security debate
- Rajya Sabha headed for confrontation ahead of PM’s speech
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th Feb: A fresh political flashpoint has erupted in Parliament, with the Congress and the Opposition mounting sustained protests after alleging that Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was not allowed to speak, triggering repeated adjournments during the Budget Session.
The standoff led to the cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. While the House eventually passed the Motion later in the day, the Congress has signalled that it will also block the Prime Minister’s speech in the Rajya Sabha, expected this evening.
Why Congress Is Protesting
At the heart of the dispute is an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief MM Naravane. Rahul Gandhi has claimed the book reveals that the Indian Army was left to manage the 2020 China border crisis without adequate political backing. According to the Congress, the government prevented Gandhi from quoting the memoir, allegedly out of fear of scrutiny.
“If Rahul Gandhi is not allowed to speak, we will not allow the government to speak either,” Congress leaders warned, calling the move an attack on democratic debate. Party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra went further, alleging that the Prime Minister was “too scared to enter Parliament.”
Escalation Inside Parliament
Tensions intensified after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was permitted by the Chair to refer to books critical of the Gandhi family, prompting another round of protests and adjournments. Subsequently, eight Opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session, further fuelling anger on the Opposition benches.
In the Rajya Sabha, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed for restraint and respect for parliamentary conventions. He urged Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure adherence to rules. Kharge countered that Gandhi was being unfairly silenced and insisted the Opposition only wanted to highlight “mistakes of the government”.
Meanwhile, BJP President JP Nadda sparked controversy with a veiled remark, referring to Gandhi as an “abodh balak” (naive child), adding to the charged atmosphere.
Political Messaging and What Lies Ahead
The Congress has framed the issue as one of free speech and parliamentary democracy, alleging censorship on a matter linked to national security. The BJP, however, maintains that Gandhi’s references violated House rules that bar unauthenticated material from being cited.
With tempers high and the Opposition defiant, the Rajya Sabha is set for another confrontation, raising the prospect of continued disruptions as the Budget Session enters a critical phase.
