Prime Minister Narendra Modi, joined by senior ministers like Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, made unprecedented interventions during a charged debate in the Lok Sabha on Monday, triggered by allegations from Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi during discussions on the President’s speech.
In a notable departure from his usual practice, PM Modi directly responded to Gandhi’s remarks, particularly taking offense at Gandhi’s characterisation of Hindu society. “To suggest that Hindus are prone to violence is a serious accusation,” the PM stated firmly, countering Gandhi’s implications about the BJP and RSS.
The debate quickly escalated, prompting strong reactions from Amit Shah, who demanded an apology from Gandhi for what he described as insulting millions of Hindus.
PM Modi later intervened again, responding to Gandhi’s comments about his demeanour during the session, emphasising his respect for parliamentary norms and the role of the Leader of the Opposition.
Throughout the session, Rajnath Singh and other ministers also interjected to clarify points raised by Gandhi on defence and agriculture issues.
At a subsequent media briefing, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju criticised Gandhi’s remarks as “irresponsible” and accused him of undermining the dignity of the Leader of Opposition and offending Hindu sentiments with baseless allegations.
