A heated exchange unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra strongly defended Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, calling him the only leader who has not bowed before the BJP-led government in the past decade. Her remarks came during a debate on a resolution seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. During the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who accused the Opposition of undermining the Speaker’s authority, criticised Rahul Gandhi’s conduct in the House.
Speaking during the discussion, Priyanka Gandhi said Rahul Gandhi had remained steadfast despite repeated attacks from the ruling side. “There is only one person in the country who has not bowed down before them (the ruling side) in the last 12 years. It is the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. This is because the LoP does not shy away from speaking the truth. They (government) cannot digest the truth.”
Priyanka Gandhi was allowed to address the House by presiding member Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was chairing the session at the time.
‘Have no cure if you believe to be above Speaker’: Kiren Rijiju on RaGa
Earlier in the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to the no-confidence motion against Om Birla, accusing Opposition MPs of trying to undermine parliamentary procedures.
He criticised remarks previously made by Rahul Gandhi about speaking in Parliament without seeking permission from the Speaker.
“When you look at the Constitution and the rules of the House, no one has challenged any decision of the Speaker. That day, I was upset for the fact that the Opposition MP said, ‘I do not need permission from anyone to speak in Parliament.’ This is on record. ‘This is my right to speak in Parliament, our Leader of Opposition said. So, I was thinking, there are many senior members in Congress, why did they not explain that in this House, PM, minister, LoP can be present, but one needs permission from the Speaker to speak,” Rijiju said in the House.
Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “On that day, I was pained to see that the leader of the opposition standing here in the proceedings said that he does not need anyone’s permission to speak in this House… I was thinking, why didn’t the senior leaders of the Congress… pic.twitter.com/ggYAv4BWIC
— IANS (@ians_india) March 10, 2026
Referring to a past instance in which Rahul Gandhi allegedly addressed the Chair informally, Rijiju remarked that the Speaker is the custodian of the House and cannot be referred to casually as “yaar”.
During his remarks, Rijiju cited the 2018 episode in which the Congress leader walked across the House to hug Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a debate. “I have never seen such a leader, who comes and hugs the Prime Minister, then goes back to his seat and winks at fellow party MPs,” Rijiju said, recalling the moment that had drawn widespread attention at the time.
Taking a jibe at the Opposition MPs, Minister Rijiju said that he has “no cure” if one believes themselves to be above the speaker in the House, referencing the previous statement of Rahul Gandhi.
“You cannot do this, and then you say your microphone is not on. Without permission, if you consider yourself to be above the Speaker, I do not have the cure for that,” the minister added.
Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “They want to control the role of the Speaker as well. They want to decide who sits in the chair… Unfortunately, they are trying to take over the Speaker’s authority…”
(Source: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/31d4buc6yx
— IANS (@ians_india) March 10, 2026
In a lighter moment during the debate, Rijiju also mentioned Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could be more suited for the role of Leader of Opposition. “She devotes more time to the House, is more affable and can handle the LoP position in a better manner,” Rijiju said, as Priyanka Gandhi listened with a smile.