'Not Allowed To speak': Rahul Gandhi's Gag Claim On Day 1 Of Monsoon Session
As the Monsoon session of Parliament kicked off, tensions flared in the Lok Sabha, leading to multiple adjournments amid loud opposition protests. Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi, voiced strong criticism over what he described as a deliberate attempt to silence dissenting voices, including his own.
Speaking to the media shortly after the House was adjourned for the second time on Monday, Gandhi questioned the fairness of the proceedings. “The question is — the Defence Minister is allowed to speak in the House, but Opposition members, including me as the LoP, are not. This is a new approach,” he remarked.
The uproar began following obituary references, as Congress-led opposition members demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor — a military operation reportedly launched by Indian forces targeting Pakistan in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Their demands were met with resistance from the Treasury benches, prompting scenes of slogan-shouting and the waving of placards, which eventually forced Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the session. As soon as the question hour began and MPs started talking the whole oppsition can be seen standing from their seats and prostesting.
'It Is My Right To Speak', Says Rahul Gandhi
Gandhi expressed frustration over what he sees as a growing trend of shutting down the opposition’s voice. “It is my right to speak as the Leader of the Opposition. But I’m never allowed to. If the government can speak, we should be given equal space to respond,” he said. “We just wanted to say a few words, but the Opposition wasn’t permitted.”
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi added, “The Prime Minister ran out of the House in a second.” He also stressed that meaningful debate can only happen when both sides are allowed to participate.
In response to the commotion, Speaker Om Birla maintained that all issues, including Operation Sindoor, could be raised after Question Hour — the designated period when MPs query government departments. “I will allow you to raise all issues after Question Hour. The House will function only through rules and regulations. It cannot allow sloganeering and raising of placards,” Birla asserted.
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