NEW DELHI: High drama unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the government regarding alleged police action during the July 20 student protests, triggering a fierce political row that ultimately led to the adjournment of the House.
Addressing the lower house on student issues, Gandhi took a direct shot at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his absence from the chamber.
“The Home Minister doesn’t have the courage to come and sit here. He is not here today cause he is scared,” Gandhi remarked, sparking immediate chaos across the treasury benches.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spearheaded the government’s counter-offensive, calling Gandhi’s remarks “irresponsible” and asserting that the Congress leader was demeaning the dignity of his constitutional office.
“This is an unsubstantiated allegation. The Leader of Opposition cannot make such baseless claims against a senior minister without any evidence. It is a clear breach of his position and privilege,” an agitated Rijiju stated in the House.
Speaker Om Birla intervened during the heated exchanges, cautioning Gandhi against levelling personal allegations without supporting facts.
“You cannot make allegations without proof. This is a House of debate and facts, not for levelling charges without any basis,” Speaker Birla admonished the LoP.
The session had faced disruption earlier after Gandhi used a term flagged by Rijiju as an “unparliamentary word” spoken in the context of a student, which the Parliamentary Affairs Minister argued violated House decorum and demanded be expunged.
Joining the intervention, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the Chair to strike the remark from official records while appealing to government members to remain calm.
“I humbly request that the unparliamentary word used by the LoP be expunged, and I urge everyone on my side to maintain silence and listen to him,” Singh said.
Speaker Om Birla subsequently ordered the controversial expression expunged from the Lok Sabha proceedings before persistent shouting from both sides forced an adjournment.
