'Scary For Those Who Believe in Democratic Principles': Govt Slams Rahul Gandhi's Conduct in Lok Sabha

Amid widespread protests and clashes between the BJP and Congress over remarks made by Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, the government condemned the Leader of Opposition’s “disruptive behaviour” in Parliament calling the visuals from the day before “scary for any person who believes in democratic principles and wants a vibrant parliamentary democracy”.

According to government sources, the visuals from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (July 2) are scary for those who believe in democratic principles and want a vibrant parliamentary democracy. “It is very obvious that this provocation to disturb and destabilise healthy debate is a part of a larger and sinister plan,” sources said.

Sources further said the question is if this will be shown in passing as a routine occurrence or be taken to the public with an important message on how democracy is being undermined. The objections to Gandhi’s conduct come even as Delhi BJP leaders held a protest on Wednesday against his ‘not Hindus’ remark attacking the BJP.

Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya took a swipe at Gandhi by calling him balak buddhi, the same term used for the Congress MP by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech, and said the opposition leader’s conduct is neither surprising nor new.

Posting a video of the Lok Sabha proceedings featuring Gandhi, he wrote on X: “What Balak Buddhi Rahul Gandhi did yesterday is neither surprising nor new. His mother Sonia Gandhi would do the same. to heckle Prime Minister Vajpayee… But Mr Modi is no Vajpayee and Rahul isn’t Sonia either. Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi has reduced himself to a caricature…”

Before being adjourned sine die, the Lok Sabha also passed a resolution condemning the opposition’s disruptions during the prime minister’s address, with Union defence minister Rajnath Singh saying these actions “shredded” parliamentary norms.

Singh moved the resolution following Modi’s speech. “The manner in which the Opposition shredded parliamentary norms when the PM was speaking on the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, I propose that the House condemns this action,” he said.

On July 1, too, Gandhi’s fiery speech in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address drew massive protests from the treasury benches, with the prime minister slamming him for calling the entire Hindu community violent. The Congress leader’s remarks, however, were expunged from record.

The Congress leader, meanwhile, condemned the “cowardly and violent attack” on the Gujarat Congress office and said this further strengthens his point about the “BJP and the Sangh Parivar”. “…The people of BJP who spread violence and hatred do not understand the basic principles of Hinduism. The people of Gujarat can clearly see through their lies and will teach the BJP government a decisive lesson. I am saying it again – INDIA is going to win in Gujarat!” he said in Hindi in a post on X.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die after the passage of the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. The session, which began on June 24, had seven sittings spread over 34 hours and the productivity of the House was 103 per cent, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said.