NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha witnessed intense political drama on Tuesday as Opposition and BJP members engaged in a heated confrontation within Speaker Om Birla's office. The clash erupted following controversial remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey targeting the Gandhi family during parliamentary proceedings.
Congress Protests Speaker's Decision
After the Lok Sabha's proceedings were adjourned, Congress MPs led by Deepender Singh Hooda met Speaker Om Birla to register their strong protest against the Chair's decision to allow Dubey to speak against the Gandhi family. In a video shared by news agency IANS, Congress parliamentarians were seen vociferously protesting inside Birla's office, creating a tense atmosphere.
BJP's Presence in Speaker's Office
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, along with other BJP MPs, was also present in the Speaker's office during the confrontation, representing the ruling party's position. This created a direct face-off between the treasury and opposition benches in an unusual setting outside the main parliamentary chamber.
Dubey's Controversial Statements
The controversy began when Nishikant Dubey, during Lok Sabha proceedings, listed several books and discussed their contents regarding various members of the Gandhi family. Dubey asserted that while Rahul Gandhi wanted to speak about an unpublished book, he had brought a series of published books to "expose" the Gandhi family.
Chair's Intervention and Rule Citation
Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the session, intervened and stated he could not allow such discussion. Tenneti cited Rule 349 of parliamentary procedures, which explicitly bars members from reading from any book, newspaper, or letter except in direct connection with the business of the House. Following this intervention, the House was adjourned until 5 pm.
Earlier Adjournment Over Army Memoir
Earlier in the day, proceedings had already been adjourned until 2 pm following vociferous protests by Opposition members. The protests centered on issues related to the unpublished memoir of former Army chief General M M Naravane. Congress members had brought banners and posters featuring the former Army chief and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while Rahul Gandhi was seen flashing a book in the House.
Ongoing Uproar Since Monday
The parliamentary uproar has been continuing since Monday afternoon when Rahul Gandhi was disallowed from quoting an article that cited Naravane's unpublished memoir regarding the 2020 India-China conflict. Rahul Gandhi had insisted on raising the issue of the August 2020 India-China confrontation but was repeatedly interrupted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and later by Home Minister Amit Shah, who asked him not to quote from unverified sources.
Rahul Gandhi's Formal Protest
On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi escalated the matter by writing a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, registering his "strongest protest" over being denied the opportunity to speak on the President's address during the ongoing Budget session. In his letter, Gandhi described the restriction as a "blot on our democracy" and alleged that the government appeared "scared" of what might be written in the unpublished book.
Parliamentary Proceedings Disrupted
The series of events has significantly disrupted parliamentary proceedings during the crucial Budget session, with multiple adjournments and heated exchanges becoming the norm rather than exception. Both sides have dug in their positions, with the Opposition accusing the government of suppressing legitimate discussion and the treasury benches maintaining that parliamentary rules must be strictly followed.
The situation reflects the deepening political polarization in Parliament, where even procedural matters have become flashpoints for larger political battles. As the Budget session continues, observers are watching closely to see if normal parliamentary functioning can be restored or whether such confrontations will become more frequent.
