Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Denies Allegations of Encouraging Parliamentary Misconduct
Congress Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has issued a strong rebuttal to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's claims regarding her involvement in an alleged incident of misbehavior by opposition lawmakers. On Thursday, Gandhi categorically rejected Rijiju's assertion that she encouraged Congress MPs who reportedly entered Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's chamber and engaged in disruptive conduct.
Firm Denial of Minister's Accusations
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Priyanka Gandhi labeled the minister's allegations as "completely false" and explicitly stated that "no abuse took place" during the encounter. She emphasized that the claim she had egged on protesting MPs was a "lie" and maintained that she was sitting quietly throughout the interaction with the Speaker.
"We did not abuse anyone," Gandhi asserted. "One or two 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 to the Speaker."
Rijiju's Initial Allegations and Video Evidence
The controversy stems from statements made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday, where he alleged that 20-25 Congress MPs had entered Speaker Om Birla's chamber, verbally abused him, and even threatened the Prime Minister. Rijiju claimed that senior Congress leaders present at the scene failed to intervene and instead encouraged the protesting MPs.
"They (the Congress MPs) were egging them on. Had our MPs misbehaved with anyone, our leader would stop them. But their (Congress') leaders were egging on the MPs to quarrel," Rijiju had stated during his initial remarks.
On Thursday, the Union minister escalated the dispute by sharing what he described as an "illegal video clip" allegedly recorded by a Congress MP. The footage purportedly shows opposition members gathered in the Speaker's chamber last week during a protest against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's remarks concerning former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
In a social media post accompanying the video, Rijiju wrote: "This is the illegal video clip taken by a Congress MP when 20-25 Congress MPs entered the Chamber of Hon'ble Speaker, abused him and threatened Honb'le Prime Minister. Our party believes in debate & discussion and never encourages MPs to threaten physically."
Context of the Parliamentary Confrontation
The heated exchange represents the latest flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress party in Parliament. The incident reportedly occurred when Congress MPs approached the Speaker's chamber to register their protest against comments made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey regarding former prime ministers from the Nehru-Gandhi family.
The conflicting narratives from both political sides highlight the deepening divisions within the parliamentary proceedings. While the BJP leadership maintains that opposition MPs engaged in inappropriate conduct and threats, Congress representatives insist they were merely expressing legitimate concerns through parliamentary channels.
Key Points of Contention
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleges Congress MPs abused Speaker Om Birla and threatened the Prime Minister
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra denies all allegations of encouraging misbehavior or abuse
- Rijiju shares video evidence he claims shows the incident
- Gandhi maintains she remained peaceful throughout the interaction
- The dispute centers around protests against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's remarks
- This represents another episode in ongoing parliamentary tensions between BJP and Congress
The contradictory accounts from both political camps underscore the challenging atmosphere in India's parliamentary proceedings, with each side presenting starkly different versions of events that occurred within the Speaker's chamber. As the verbal sparring continues, the incident adds to the growing list of confrontations that have characterized recent parliamentary sessions.
