Rijiju Condemns Congress MPs for Alleged Breach of Parliamentary Decorum
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, alleging that a group of its MPs entered the Lok Sabha Speaker's chamber and verbally abused him. The incident, which Rijiju described as "very unfortunate," has sparked a major controversy in Indian politics.
Allegations of Unruly Behavior in Speaker's Chamber
According to Rijiju, approximately 20 to 25 Congress MPs forcibly entered the Speaker's private chamber and subjected him to abusive language. He claimed that senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal, were present during this incident and even encouraged the MPs in their actions.
The Speaker was reportedly hurt by this behavior, and his official rulings were completely ignored by the protesting MPs. Rijiju emphasized that this represents a serious breach of parliamentary protocol and undermines the dignity of legislative proceedings.
Rahul Gandhi's Claim and Rijiju's Response
The controversy deepened when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly claimed he could speak in Parliament without requiring the Chair's permission. Rijiju strongly countered this assertion, stating that all members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister, must seek and obtain approval from the Chair before speaking.
"This is a fundamental rule of parliamentary democracy," Rijiju asserted. "No member, regardless of their position or party affiliation, is above the established procedures and decorum of the House."
National Security Concerns Raised
Rijiju expressed particular concern about what he described as the politicization of sensitive security issues. He warned that using matters of national security for political mileage is not only inappropriate but potentially dangerous for the country.
"When parliamentary proceedings descend into chaos and important security matters are exploited for political gains, it compromises our national interests," Rijiju stated. He called for greater responsibility from all political parties when discussing security-related topics in Parliament.
Call for Discipline and Respect in Parliament
The Union Minister issued a direct appeal to Congress leadership to discipline their MPs and ensure such incidents don't recur. He stressed that Parliament must function with proper decorum, dignity, and respect for established procedures.
Rijiju outlined several key expectations for parliamentary conduct:
- Respect for the Speaker's authority and rulings
- Adherence to established speaking protocols
- Avoidance of physical confrontations or verbal abuse
- Maintaining focus on substantive policy discussions
- Protecting national security from political exploitation
The minister warned that continued disruptions and breaches of protocol could undermine the effectiveness of parliamentary democracy in India. He called for all parties to work together to restore dignity to legislative proceedings and ensure Parliament can fulfill its constitutional responsibilities without unnecessary disruptions.
