Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (February 11) said the government would move a privilege notice against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of misleading the House and making “baseless” allegations during the ongoing Budget session.
The announcement came after Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over the recently finalised India–United States interim trade deal. Speaking during the debate on the Union Budget, the Congress leader alleged that the agreement amounted to a “wholesale surrender” and compromised India’s core national interests, including energy security and the welfare of farmers.
Responding to Gandhi’s remarks, Rijiju said the government would initiate formal action under parliamentary rules. “We are going to file a privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi for misleading the House and also making baseless statements. There are clear rules and procedures for the conduct of business in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. When a member intends to make serious charges against another member, then you have to give notice and also substantiate the allegation,” he said.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister added that he had requested the Chair to direct Gandhi to authenticate the claims made in his speech. “Rahul Gandhi has made useless and false allegations against the government and the Prime Minister, claiming that the Prime Minister has sold India and Indian interests. On what basis? He has also made serious allegations against Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri without giving any notice,” Rijiju said.
During his address, Gandhi used strong language to criticise the trade agreement, accusing the government of having “sold Bharat Mata” through the deal. “You have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata,” he said, asserting that the agreement undermined India’s strategic autonomy.
The Congress leader argued that India’s energy security had been weakened under the pact, claiming that the United States would now exert influence over where India sources its oil. He also warned that the interests of Indian farmers had been compromised, alleging that domestic agriculture would face a “storm” as American agricultural products enter Indian markets in larger volumes.
Gandhi further claimed that the Indian textile industry had been severely damaged under the current government’s economic policies, saying it was “finished.” He maintained that an INDIA bloc government would have negotiated differently, insisting that Washington treat New Delhi as an equal partner.
Referring to earlier statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that the era of war is over, Gandhi contested the claim, stating, “The reality is that we are moving into an era of war.”
The move to file a privilege notice sets the stage for further confrontation between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Parliament. If admitted by the Speaker, the matter could be referred to the Privileges Committee for examination, potentially deepening the political tussle over the trade deal and the broader direction of India’s economic and foreign policy.
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