A fresh political storm erupted in Parliament on Wednesday after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju declared that the government would initiate a privilege notice against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “misleading the House” and making “baseless and serious allegations” during the Budget session debate.
The move comes in response to Gandhi’s sharp criticism of the recently concluded India–US interim trade agreement, which he described as a “wholesale surrender” and alleged amounted to having “sold Bharat Mata.”
Addressing reporters after proceedings in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said, “We are going to file a privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi for misleading the House and making unfounded statements. There are established rules in Parliament. If a member wishes to level serious charges against another member, prior notice must be given and the allegations must be substantiated.”
Rijiju stated that he had urged the Chair to direct Gandhi to return to the House and authenticate the claims he made during his speech. “He accused the Prime Minister of selling India and Indian interests. On what basis? These are reckless statements,” Rijiju said. “He also made serious allegations against Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri without following due procedure.”
The minister further demanded strict action regarding the remarks made by the Congress leader. “His entire speech — including incorrect statements, false claims and unparliamentary expressions — should be examined and expunged where necessary. Lies and baseless allegations cannot remain on record,” he asserted.
Emphasizing national sovereignty, Rijiju said, “I reminded him clearly — no one can sell this country and no one can buy it. The very idea that India can be sold is absurd. No one can even imagine such a thing.”
Earlier during the Union Budget discussion, Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack on the Modi government over the India–US trade pact. “You have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata,” Gandhi said in the House.
Calling the agreement a “wholesale surrender,” Gandhi alleged that the deal compromises India’s energy security and weakens the country’s strategic autonomy. He claimed that under the arrangement, the United States would influence decisions regarding India’s oil sourcing.
“Our energy security has been compromised,” Gandhi said. “Farmers will face a storm when American agricultural products flood our markets.”
The Congress leader further argued that Indian agriculture would suffer severe consequences and claimed that the domestic textile sector had been devastated under current economic policies. “The textile industry is finished,” he remarked.
Referring to earlier statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that the world is moving beyond an era of war, Gandhi countered, saying, “The reality is that we are moving into an era of war.”
