A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Parliament after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament moved a motion seeking the termination of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s membership from the Lok Sabha.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey confirmed that he has initiated formal proceedings in the Lower House against the Leader of Opposition, accusing him of making statements that allegedly misled the country during a recent debate on the India–US interim trade agreement and the Union Budget. Along with seeking his removal from Parliament, Dubey has also demanded that Gandhi be barred for life from contesting elections.
The move comes a day after Rahul Gandhi delivered a sharp speech in the Lok Sabha in which he criticised the Centre’s handling of the trade agreement with the United States. Gandhi alleged that the deal compromised India’s strategic and economic interests at a time when the world is facing growing geopolitical instability.
During his address, Gandhi claimed that India’s tariff structure and import commitments had shifted significantly under the agreement. He argued that while the global situation is becoming increasingly uncertain, the government had entered into arrangements that could increase dependence on foreign imports, particularly from the United States.
He further alleged that projected imports from the US were set to rise substantially and questioned whether India had secured adequate reciprocal benefits. Gandhi described the agreement as unbalanced and raised concerns about its potential impact on domestic industries and farmers.
His remarks drew strong objections from BJP members, who accused him of making unfounded allegations and attempting to create confusion over a sensitive international matter. Several ruling party leaders described his speech as misleading and inappropriate for the floor of Parliament.
The controversy also spilled outside the House, where Opposition MPs staged protests, claiming that certain provisions in the trade arrangement could adversely affect common citizens and the agricultural sector.
The ongoing Budget Session, which began on January 28, has already witnessed multiple disruptions over policy disagreements. With the motion now formally moved, the matter could trigger further debate and procedural developments in the Lok Sabha in the coming days.
