Lok Sabha Proceedings Descend Into Chaos Over Book References
The Lok Sabha, already embroiled in a contentious deadlock over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's persistent references to an unpublished book, witnessed a dramatic escalation of tensions on Wednesday. The parliamentary session was plunged into deeper turmoil as Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey introduced a collection of books containing unflattering and controversial references to members of the prominent Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty.
BJP's Counterattack Intensifies Parliamentary Standoff
In what appeared to be a strategic countermove by the ruling party, Dubey's parliamentary intervention was widely perceived as the BJP's calculated response to turn the political heat back on the opposition Congress party. The Congress has been aggressively targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding excerpts from an unpublished memoir authored by former Army chief General M M Naravane (retired).
The BJP parliamentarian's provocative action further incensed the already protesting opposition members in the Lower House, who responded by amplifying their vocal protests and resorting to paper-tearing demonstrations. However, Dubey managed to speak for approximately two minutes before the situation deteriorated completely.
Chair's Attempts to Maintain Order Prove Futile
TDP MP Krishna Tenneti, who was presiding over the session at that moment, repeatedly urged Dubey to discontinue his speech, emphasizing that his remarks violated Speaker Om Birla's earlier ruling. "You listen to me. You cannot do this," Tenneti asserted firmly, but the BJP parliamentarian continued with his presentation despite these directives.
The Chair eventually had no choice but to adjourn the House proceedings, though several opposition members subsequently questioned why Dubey had been permitted to continue speaking in violation of parliamentary decorum. Following the adjournment, Congress parliamentarians met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally demanded Dubey's suspension from the House.
Controversial Literary References Fuel Political Firestorm
The books referenced by Dubey during the parliamentary session included several controversial titles:
- 'Reminiscences of the Nehru Age' by M O Mathai, former private secretary to India's first Prime Minister
- 'Edwina and Nehru'
- 'Ceasefires'
- 'The Red Sari'
Dubey proceeded to highlight specific content from these publications, touching upon sensitive allegations concerning private lives and corruption charges against the political family. The BJP MP pointed out that many of these books had either been banned during Congress administrations or faced significant restrictions that limited their public availability.
"Since a book which is not published is being discussed, I want to speak about books which are full of stories of the corruption, deviousness, wanton indulgences and corruption of the Nehru family," Dubey asserted during his parliamentary remarks, a charge he later elaborated upon during a press conference.
Congress Demands and Cancelled Prime Ministerial Address
Prominent Congress parliamentarians including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, and Deepender Hooda appealed to Speaker Birla to take disciplinary action against Dubey. They simultaneously demanded that Rahul Gandhi be granted an opportunity to speak before Prime Minister Modi's scheduled reply to the motion of thanks on the President's address.
The unrelenting protests from opposition members ultimately forced the cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address, which had been scheduled for 5 PM. This development marked a significant disruption to the parliamentary calendar and highlighted the deepening political divisions within the legislature.
Post-Adjournment Media Engagement Escalates Controversy
In his subsequent comments to media representatives, Dubey expanded his literary references to include additional titles, many of which he claimed had faced banning orders. He continued to target Congress's leading political family with various allegations, including references to personal indulgences.
Among the additional books mentioned was 'Himalayan Blunder', a critical account of Indian leadership during the 1962 war with China that was initially banned but later became publicly available. This expanded literary offensive further intensified the political controversy surrounding historical narratives and their contemporary political implications.
The parliamentary confrontation underscores the increasingly contentious nature of political discourse in India's legislative bodies, where historical references and unpublished materials have become potent weapons in ongoing political battles between the ruling establishment and opposition forces.
