NEW DELHI, Feb 12
Afresh political flashpoint erupted in Parliament on Thursday after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju released a video alleging that 20-25 Congress MPs forcibly entered Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s chamber, used abusive language, and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The charge has been firmly rejected by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who said no abuse took place and that she spoke “peacefully” at the end.
The claims and counterclaims have intensified an already tense standoff between the treasury benches and the Opposition, with the government indicating it will move a privilege notice against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Rijiju alleges confrontation inside Speaker’s chamber Speaking to reporters and sharing the video on X, Rijiju claimed the situation could have turned chaotic had BJP and NDA MPs not exercised restraint.
“If I had given full freedom to the BJP and NDA MPs, then it would have created chaos. If it had happened, it would have created a bad situation. We don’t want such things.
Around 20-25 MPs entered the Speaker’s chamber forcefully. Then I ran to see what happened and what kind of misbehaviour they were doing. They were abusing. Priyanka ji was also there, and they abused the Speaker, PM in front of her,” Rijiju said. He further claimed that while Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not themselves use abusive language, other Congress MPs allegedly did so. “Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi ji didn’t abuse. But under their presence, the Congress MPs abused a lot. They were saying, ‘See what we will do with the Prime Minister of the country.
See what we will do with him in the Parliament.’ Everything has been recorded,” he said. Rijiju added, “I was also there. The Speaker is a very soft person; otherwise, strict action would have been taken.” The minister said the government had initially refrained from speaking publicly but decided to respond as Congress was “spreading lies again and again”. “We didn’t want to tell, but the Congress is spreading lies again and again. That’s why we are telling. We want to show how patiently we have worked. We have great patience. We can’t do that,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi rejects allegation, says no abuse took place Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra dismissed Rijiju’s claims, stating that she neither encouraged confrontation nor witnessed abuse.
“We did not abuse anyone. 1-2 MPs were agitated, and they expressed it.
He also said that I was encouraging them, which is a lie. I was sitting quietly. In the end, I said a few things peacefully,” she told reporters.
Beyond the chamber incident, Priyanka Gandhi also criticised the government over the India–US trade deal, alleging that it would hurt farmers.
“The trade deal (India-US) that they have signed is going to incur heavy losses to the farmers. The entire labour union is on strike today, and we are supporting them,” she said.
Commenting on possible action against Rahul Gandhi, she added, “They will do FIR, cases and whatnot against Rahul Gandhi, but nothing is going to affect him.”
Privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi
On Wednesday, Rijiju said BJP members in the Lok Sabha would move a privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi “for misleading the House and also making baseless statements”.
“We are going to file a privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi for misleading the House and also making baseless statements. There are very clear-cut rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. When a member intends to make serious charges against another member, then you have to give notice and also substantiate the allegation,” he said.
“I have requested that Rahul Gandhi be called to the floor of the House to authenticate the points he has made. Rahul Gandhi has made useless and false allegations against the government, against the Prime Minister, saying that the Prime Minister has sold India and Indian interests. On what basis? He has made a serious allegation against Hardeep Singh Puri without giving any notice,” he added.
