Lok Sabha Proceedings Halted Following Controversial Remarks by BJP MP
The Lok Sabha witnessed significant disruption on Wednesday as proceedings were adjourned until 5 pm following a series of sharp remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey. The controversy erupted during the ongoing debate on the President's Address, with Dubey targeting the Congress party and members of the prominent Nehru-Gandhi family.
Chair's Repeated Interventions Fail to Censure Contentious Speech
During his participation in the parliamentary debate around 2 pm, Dubey employed strong language to accuse the Congress and the Gandhi family of what he termed as "aiyyashi, makkari and bhrashtachar" (debauchery, trickery, and corruption). The BJP parliamentarian sought to reference multiple published books that he claimed contained damaging accounts about the political dynasty.
"There is a discussion on books going on here, on a book that has never been published. I want to tell the house about books which are full of Congress family's 'gaddari, makkari, bhrashtachar and aiyyashi'. And these are all published books," Dubey asserted during his speech.
Historical References and Allegations Surface in Parliamentary Debate
The MP proceeded to make specific references that stirred further controversy within the House. He mentioned Lady Edwina Mountbatten alongside India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, claiming that certain books describe how "Nehru ji aiyyashi kar rahe the" during the critical period of Independence and Partition.
Dubey further referenced a book by M O Mathai, who served as Jawaharlal Nehru's personal assistant, alleging that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi maintained what he described as a "personal relationship" with him. The BJP parliamentarian also mentioned The Red Sari, a book concerning Sonia Gandhi, claiming it describes "how the Congress ran a government on the basis of corruption."
Broader Context of Parliamentary Confrontation
These remarks occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing confrontation between Treasury and Opposition benches regarding parliamentary procedures. Earlier in the week, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had attempted to quote from an unpublished book by former Indian Army chief M M Naravane concerning the Modi government's approach to Chinese aggression.
When Gandhi tried to read excerpts from this work on Monday, Speaker Om Birla prevented him from proceeding. This decision sparked protests from Congress MPs, resulting in the suspension of eight opposition members on Tuesday due to disruptions in parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Discipline Enforced Through Adjournment
During Dubey's speech, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the session, repeatedly intervened to caution the MP about his language and content. Tenneti reminded the House that Speaker Birla had previously ruled that members should confine their remarks to issues mentioned in the President's Address.
Despite these repeated objections from the Chair, Dubey continued with his contentious remarks, ultimately leading Tenneti to adjourn the House until 5 pm. This decision came after both morning and afternoon sittings had already experienced multiple adjournments due to protests and slogan-shouting by Congress MPs in the Well of the House.
The exchange further intensified the already charged atmosphere in the Lok Sabha, where substantive debate on the President's Address has been repeatedly overshadowed by procedural disputes, opposition protests, and sharp exchanges regarding permissible material for citation within parliamentary proceedings.
