Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, specifically targeting its senior leader Rahul Gandhi, over what he described as the party’s “disruptive behaviour” in Parliament. In a candid interview with The Indian Express, Shah expressed deep concern about the declining standards of parliamentary conduct, which he attributes to Gandhi’s entry into politics.
Responding to questions about the growing bitterness between the treasury benches and the opposition, Shah lamented the lack of constructive debate in Parliament. He cited significant legislation such as Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), where he claims to have answered all questions raised, yet felt disappointed by the absence of meaningful discussion. “There is an absence of discussion in Parliament. On all controversial legislation or issues, be it Article 370, CAA, I have replied to every question raised, joined debates, but I feel pained that there’s no discussion, that Parliament is treated in so cavalier a manner,” Shah stated.
Shah was particularly critical of Rahul Gandhi, asserting that the Congress party’s behaviour has deteriorated since his rise within its ranks. He remarked, “In my opinion, it’s after the entry of Rahul Gandhi in the party that the Congress’s behaviour has changed, the standards of politics have fallen after that.”
The Home Minister also highlighted the trend of parliamentary disruptions orchestrated by the Congress over the past two decades. He noted an unprecedented level of disrespect shown during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the President’s address, which was continuously disrupted for over an hour. “I have never seen the prime minister replying to the president’s address and you continuously disrupting him for an hour-and-a-half. He is the prime minister because the people of the country have given him that mandate, you are disrespecting not Narendra Modi but the Constitutional system,” Shah asserted.
Addressing the shift in public perception towards Gandhi, Shah emphasized the importance of thoughtful and serious political discourse. However, he defended the legal process that led to Gandhi’s temporary disqualification from Parliament over a campaign speech, emphasizing that it was a court-mandated decision. “If the court punishes him, should he get special treatment? The day the court stayed that, he was back in Parliament the very next day. This is the law, the law that they brought in, not us,” Shah pointed out.
