Lok Sabha Sees Second Day of Uproar Over Rahul Gandhi’s China Article Reference
For the second day in a row, the Lok Sabha descended into chaos as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi cited a news article about China, prompting strong objections from BJP MPs who demanded his remarks be removed from the record.
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi referenced a China-related news article for the second consecutive day.
- BJP MPs strongly objected, calling the article “unauthenticated.”
- Speaker Om Birla intervened, asking Gandhi to avoid unverified references.
- The disruption led to a brief adjournment of the House.
Immediate Objections from Treasury Benches
As soon as Gandhi mentioned the article, BJP members rose to object. They argued the article was not authenticated and that Gandhi should not be permitted to cite it during proceedings.
Speaker’s Intervention
Speaker Om Birla advised Gandhi against referencing articles that lack authentication. He stated the Chair would determine which parts of the speech, if any, should be expunged.
Context of the Debate
The incident occurred during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. This follows a similar uproar on Thursday when Gandhi’s reference to a China article also sparked protests, resulting in parts of his speech being expunged.
Gandhi’s Defence and Continued Disruption
On Friday, Gandhi defended his actions, stating he was reading from a published newspaper article and that it was his right to do so. Despite his defence, BJP members continued their objections, ultimately forcing a brief adjournment of the House.
