Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s repeated attempts on Monday to refer to a magazine report based on a manuscript to raise questions over the government’s handling of the 2020 China border conflict sparked a row in the Lok Sabha, as Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members accused the Congress leader of “misleading” the House. Caravan magazine published excerpts from the manuscript in its January 31 issue.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was adamant about reading the report. (PTI)Singh and Shah argued that the manuscript was not published. “If not published, how can it be cited?” asked Shah
For more than 40 minutes, Gandhi was adamant about reading the report amid objections on technical grounds. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla cited Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha (349 and 353) and ruled that Gandhi could not read from the magazine article.
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Gandhi began quoting from the report, citing the unpublished “memoir” of former army chief General (retd) MM Naravane, as he rose to deliver the vote of thanks to the President’s address. He said he would do so in response to BJP MP Tejashwi Surya’s allegations against the Congress over nationalism.
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Gandhi argued that the President’s speech was about the current situation, policy, foreign policy, China, Pakistan and the global situation. “I did not mean to mention this article, but your member [Surya] Questioned our nationalism and our character.
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As Birla ruled against any mention of the article, Gandhi, on the advice of Congress colleague KC Venugopal, said, “You said, I can’t refer to the magazine or the book. I’m not referring to the article. There was a border. There were four tanks on the border…”
Before Gandhi could say anything else, Shah stopped him and asked, “How did you know there was a tank there?” Birla again told Gandhi that he could not mention the matter.
Both sides mentioned in the rule book. BJP’s Nishikant Dubey, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Shah have brought out the rule book arguing that Gandhi cannot cite a magazine quote. Venugopal has repeatedly referred to the book and questioned whether the rules apply only to opponents.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav supported Gandhi and said he must be allowed to raise the issue about China. “I think LoP [leader of the opposition] China should be given the opportunity to speak. It is an important matter.”
Venugopal and Gandhi also argued with the Speaker, who reminded the opposition that no question could be raised on his judgment. The speaker warned Gandhi that if he was not interested in participating in the debate, the next speaker, Yadav, would be invited to speak. Gandhi did not give up.
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Venugopal repeatedly stood up to Gandhi’s defense and tried to explain the rules, with the speaker quipping about whether he was Gandhi’s advocate.
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Venugopal replied that the entire opposition was Gandhi’s advocate. Birla replied that advocates had no role in the House. Birla cited a rule that says advance notice is required if someone wants to impeach another lawmaker.
Gandhi claimed that Surya harbored hatred towards the Congress and called it anti-national.
Shah protects Surya. “I listened to him attentively [Congress-led] UPA [United Progressive Alliance government] Era, the President’s speech did not mention specific words. The subject of debate is the President’s speech. If Gandhi wants to refute Surya, he should refer to the President’s speech during the UPA era and show the House whether those words are actually in the speech.”
Gandhi hit back, saying the government says it fights terrorism, but is afraid of a line in a magazine. “It’s about our relationship with China. It’s a fundamental interpretation of our relationship with China.”
As Gandhi repeatedly defied the Speaker’s ruling, Rijiju said, “We have to decide what to do with those members who don’t want to obey the rule. You should teach other teachers. You are a five-time MP.” If the deadlock continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.
