Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 17: The first half of the Budget session witnessed acrimony rather than animated debate, with a series of developments centring on the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, triggering sharp political reactions.

During the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, Gandhi was prevented from completing his speech after he attempted to quote from unpublished memoirs of a former Army chief. The Speaker and members of the Treasury benches objected, stating that parliamentary rules did not permit references to unpublished material.

The controversy deepened when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey moved a “substantive motion” against Gandhi, accusing him of being “hand in glove” with “anti-national forces”. The motion sought cancellation of Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership and his disqualification from contesting elections.

Dubey’s move has sparked debate across political circles. Substantive motions have previously been invoked in cases of criminal misconduct, including the 2005 “cash for votes” scandal. However, Gandhi’s recent criticism of the interim India-US trade deal has been defended by opposition leaders as a legitimate exercise of parliamentary oversight.

Dubey alleged that Gandhi’s statements were aimed at “destabilising” the country, a charge that opposition parties termed an attempt to conflate dissent with anti-national activity. Political observers noted that branding disagreement as anti-national risks narrowing democratic space for debate both inside and outside Parliament.

This is not the first time Gandhi has faced disqualification. In March 2023, he was disqualified following a conviction in a defamation case by a lower court, only to be reinstated in August 2023 after the Supreme Court stayed his sentence.

With tensions running high, the developments have once again brought into focus the role of the Leader of the Opposition in a parliamentary democracy and the broader question of tolerance for dissent within the House.