Congress MP Submits Breach of Privilege Notice Against Prime Minister Modi
Congress MP KC Venugopal on Tuesday lodged a formal breach of privilege notice in Parliament against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This action follows the Prime Minister's address to the nation after the failure of the 131st Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to pass in the Lok Sabha.
Allegations of Abuse of Power and Contempt
Venugopal, representing Alappuzha, labeled the Prime Minister's speech a "blatant abuse of power". He asserted that the address, in which Modi criticized opposition parties, constitutes a serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House. In his notice, Venugopal detailed that during the 29-minute speech, the Prime Minister directly targeted opposition members, commented on their voting patterns, and attributed motives to them.
"Addressing the Nation by the Prime Minister on the government not being able to muster the requisite majority in Parliament, for criticising the Opposition parties, is unprecedented, which is unethical and a blatant abuse of power. Such statements by the highest executive functionary of the country constitute a serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House," the notice stated.
Congress Leadership Condemns the Address
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh amplified the criticism by sharing the notice on social media platform X. He emphasized that a sitting Prime Minister's address to the nation has traditionally been reserved for fostering national unity and confidence-building. Ramesh accused Modi of engaging in "unabashed partisan demagoguery" during the speech, which included 59 attacks on the Congress party.
"The Prime Minister’s unabashed partisan demagoguery during this address – with 59 different attacks on the Congress party – will be yet another permanent stain on his record as Prime Minister," Ramesh remarked.
Background: The Failed Constitutional Amendment Bill
The controversy stems from the rejection of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which Prime Minister Modi claimed deals a direct blow to women's dignity. In his address, he suggested that female voters would remember this affront, stating, "Women may forget many things, but not an insult to their pride." He further warned that the opposition's actions, which he termed "misdeeds," would be punished by the people in due course.
This incident highlights escalating tensions between the government and opposition in Parliament, with the privilege notice marking a significant procedural escalation. The move underscores ongoing debates over parliamentary decorum and the appropriate use of executive communication channels.
