NEW DELHI – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday asserted that the current government is preventing him from speaking in the Lok Sabha, stating that as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), he has the inherent right to ask questions and raise issues.
Gandhi alleged a “new approach” in Parliament, where only members of the treasury bench are permitted to speak, while opposition voices are being suppressed. “The defence minister and others from the government are allowed to speak, but opposition leaders are not. I am the leader of the opposition. I have the right to speak, but they are not letting me. This is their new approach,” he said.
The Lok Sabha witnessed noisy protests by opposition parties, including the Congress, who were seeking a discussion on Operation Sindoor. This operation refers to attacks carried out by the Indian armed forces on Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025.
“Discussion will only happen if they allow it. Conventionally, if ministers can speak, the opposition should also be heard. We wanted to raise key issues but weren’t allowed,” Gandhi added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also called for the LoP to be allowed to speak in Parliament. “If they really want a discussion, why wasn’t the LoP allowed to speak even for a minute?”, she questioned.
Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju assured that the government is open to discussions after a timeline is set up by the Business Advisory Committee. “It is the first day of the session and everyone is creating a ruckus. The Government of India is ready to discuss all issues,” Rijiju stated.