New Delhi, March 11, 2026 — Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday sharply criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for targeting her brother and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the Lok Sabha debate on the opposition’s resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. She clarified that the no-confidence motion was directed at the Speaker, not Rahul Gandhi, and accused Shah of using an unparliamentary word without objection from the Chair.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi said: “The no-confidence motion was against the Speaker, not Rahul ji. He should have spoken on that issue. He used an unparliamentary word in Parliament today, but the Speaker did not object to it.”
Her remarks came after a stormy two-day debate in the Lok Sabha on the resolution moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, backed by over 50 opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc. The opposition alleged that Speaker Om Birla had shown partisan behaviour and failed to uphold the impartiality of the office. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi had emphasised that the move was aimed at protecting the dignity of Parliament rather than targeting the Speaker personally.
In his reply to the debate, Amit Shah strongly defended Speaker Birla, describing the resolution as “unfortunate” and unprecedented in nearly four decades. He argued that the motion undermined parliamentary traditions and India’s democratic credentials, noting that neither the BJP nor the NDA had ever moved such a motion against a Speaker despite long stints in opposition. Shah stressed that the Speaker acts as a neutral custodian for the entire House and that questioning his integrity damages the institution’s foundation.
Shah also launched a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary attendance and conduct. Citing figures, he said Gandhi’s attendance stood at 51% in the 17th Lok Sabha (national average 66%), 52% in the 16th (national average 80%), and 43% in the 15th (national average 76%). He accused the LoP of frequently being abroad during key discussions, including Budget sessions, and questioned how Gandhi could complain about not being allowed to speak while travelling. “Whenever there is a budget discussion, he seems to be abroad,” Shah remarked, adding that Parliament is “not a marketplace” and members must adhere to rules.
The Home Minister’s comments triggered immediate uproar from opposition benches, with Congress and INDIA bloc MPs protesting and resorting to sloganeering. They demanded an apology from Shah. Amid the chaos, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding, called for a voice vote. The resolution was defeated, with the House rejecting the opposition’s demand for the Speaker’s removal.
The episode marked a sharp escalation in the ongoing tussle between the government and opposition over parliamentary functioning during the Budget Session. While the motion failed due to the NDA’s numerical strength, the debate highlighted deep divisions on issues of Speaker neutrality, attendance records, and decorum in the House.
Priyanka Gandhi’s intervention underscored the Congress’s defence of Rahul Gandhi as the only leader who has “not bowed down” to the government in over a decade, a point she had also raised during earlier parts of the debate. The opposition has vowed to continue raising concerns about alleged bias in the Speaker’s conduct.
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