New Delhi, Feb 4: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the government of preventing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi from speaking in Parliament, alleging that the unpublished memoir of former Army chief M.M. Naravane exposes how top leadership reacted during the 2020 India-China border crisis.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, Priyanka Gandhi said, “When the government leaders speak, they quote books and reports. Rahul Gandhi authenticated the article he wanted to cite. What is the problem in presenting one viewpoint?”
The dispute escalated in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday when eight opposition MPs seven from Congress and one from CPI(M) were suspended for the remainder of the Budget session following “unruly behaviour” after Gandhi was barred for the second consecutive day from quoting the Naravane memoir. The MPs allegedly tried to climb on the secretary general’s table, tore papers, and hurled them at the Chair.
Priyanka Gandhi criticized the government’s stance, saying, “This is not merely about the leader of the opposition speaking. It is about the fundamentals of democracy and Parliament functioning. Every citizen has the right to expression, and debates on national security, foreign policy, or China have always been part of our tradition.”
She alleged that the government’s reluctance to allow discussion stems from the content of Naravane’s memoir, which, according to her, reveals how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and the Home Minister reacted when Chinese troops were at the border.
Highlighting other sensitive issues, Priyanka Gandhi also mentioned the Epstein files, claiming authenticated US Department of Justice documents suggest government interactions with the convicted sex offender, raising questions about the intent of those communications.
Rahul Gandhi had formally written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, protesting the denial to speak on a matter of national security, calling it a “blot on our democracy.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Speaker’s ruling, asserting Gandhi should not raise the issue repeatedly.
Priyanka Gandhi said the government’s censorship reflects fear of scrutiny, adding, “They are scared about what will be revealed regarding their response during crises and how they handle national security.”
The suspended MPs include Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, C Kiran Kumar Reddy, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Prashant Padole, Dean Kuriakose (Congress), and S Ventakesan (CPI-M).
As the Lok Sabha continues its Budget session, the confrontation underscores the growing tension between the ruling party and the opposition over Parliament’s ability to debate sensitive national security issues freely.