NDA Launches Fierce Attack on Rahul Gandhi Over Speaker No-Confidence Motion
The governing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on opposition leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju led the charge, asserting that Gandhi's actions stem from a realization that he cannot lead his party to electoral victory.
Rijiju Accuses Gandhi of Undermining Democratic Institutions
Kiren Rijiju stated that Rahul Gandhi is attacking democratic institutions because he knows there is no path for him to guide the Congress party to win an election. The minister controversially suggested that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would have been a superior choice to lead the Congress, a remark that prompted immediate protests from Congress MPs in the House.
Rijiju further accused Gandhi of publicly seeking foreign intervention to combat what he calls threats to Indian democracy, framing this as detrimental to national interests.
Opposition Defends Motion While NDA Frames It as Whimsical
The governing coalition portrayed the no-confidence motion as another example of Rahul Gandhi coercing his Congress colleagues and other opposition members to support his personal whims. Rijiju claimed that at least 50 opposition MPs had privately expressed their reservations about targeting Speaker Birla.
Meanwhile, INDIA bloc members justified their move, accusing the Speaker of silencing the opposition at the government's behest. DMK's TR Baalu sarcastically referred to Birla as a "gentleman" who had suspended numerous opposition MPs. TMC's Mahua Moitra called the motion divine retribution for her "wrongful" expulsion in 2023, stating, "His karma has caught up with him." Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant alleged that Birla was under pressure to act against opposition voices.
Personal Conduct and Parliamentary Dignity Questioned
Rijiju criticized Rahul Gandhi for what he described as antics that undermine parliamentary dignity, referencing an incident where Gandhi attempted to forcibly hug the Prime Minister. "What kind of Leader of Opposition does that?" the minister questioned rhetorically.
Other NDA speakers, including JDU's Rajiv Ranjan, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, and TDP's Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, highlighted Gandhi's frequent absences from crucial House debates. They accused him of undermining national interests by questioning the sacrifices of armed forces. Shinde mockingly labeled him a "leader of vacation and not leader of opposition."
Financial Cost of Disruptions and Historical Contrasts
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh emphasized the financial toll of parliamentary disruptions, noting that each hour of Parliament operation costs Rs 1.9 crore, with daily sessions amounting to Rs 9 crore. "These people don't let it run, whose money is being wasted? It is taxpayers' money that they are wasting," he declared.
Rijiju contrasted the current opposition's approach with historical precedent, pointing out that during the 2008 cash-for-votes scandal when then-Speaker Somnath Chatterjee blocked proceedings telecast, the opposition did not bring a no-confidence motion against him. He also referenced Gandhi's 2017 meeting with the Chinese ambassador during the Doklam standoff, which Congress members attempted to disrupt during his speech.
Praise for Speaker Birla's Tenure
NDA MPs praised Speaker Om Birla for providing opportunities to first-time parliamentarians and facilitating record productivity in the Lok Sabha during his tenure. This support came amidst the political maneuvering, including TMC's reversal on the motion following Congress's stance on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who had angered West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The parliamentary session thus unfolded as a heated exchange, with the NDA firmly defending democratic norms and the opposition asserting its right to hold institutions accountable, setting the stage for continued political confrontation.
