Congress Women MPs Write to Speaker over PM Modi’s Lok Sabha Absence

In a sharp escalation of the ongoing standoff in Parliament, a group of women Members of Parliament from the Congress party has written a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The MPs have vehemently rejected claims that their protests posed a physical threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead labeling his recent absence from the House as “an act of fear.”

The controversy stems from last week’s unprecedented disruptions, which resulted in the Prime Minister failing to reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address—the first time such an occurrence has happened in 22 years.

The “Security Threat” vs. “Political Cowardice”

The war of words centers on why the Prime Minister did not deliver his scheduled speech:

• The Speaker’s Stance: Om Birla stated he had “reliable information” that Opposition MPs intended to rush the PM’s seat to cause “unexpected incidents.” On this basis, the Speaker advised the Prime Minister to stay away from the House for his safety.
• The Congress Rebuttal: Led by MP S. Jothimani, the women parliamentarians described these allegations as “false, baseless, and defamatory.” Their letter asserts that the Prime Minister was simply “unable to face the truth” regarding sensitive national issues.
• Priyanka Gandhi’s Remark: Joining the fray, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the PM of “hiding behind the Speaker” to avoid accountability.

Core Points of the Protest

The Opposition’s primary grievances, which led to the chaos in the Lower House, include:

1. General Naravane’s Memoir: Rahul Gandhi was reportedly denied permission to speak about former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir and its implications for India–China border relations.
2. Impartiality of the Chair: The letter alleges that the Speaker’s office is under pressure from the ruling party, citing the “selective suspension” of eight Opposition MPs.
3. Denied Rights: The MPs argued that the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has been systematically silenced during crucial debates.

A Historic Parliamentary Low

The Motion of Thanks was eventually passed via a voice vote amidst a sea of adjournments and slogan-shouting. Political analysts note that the breakdown of communication between the Treasury and Opposition benches has reached a critical point during this Budget Session.

Timeline of the Standoff