The Lok Sabha witnessed high-voltage drama Thursday as the BJP moved a notice seeking termination of Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary membership, escalating what has become a bitterly personal winter session. Within hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget reply—setting the stage for a day where governance and confrontation ran on parallel tracks.
The Rahul Gandhi disqualification notice, submitted by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, cites "baseless and misleading statements" made by the Leader of Opposition during the budget debate. While sources confirm no privilege motion will be immediately moved, parts of Gandhi’s February 11 speech—where he alleged the US case against Adani was "to put pressure on Modi"—may be expunged.
"Fraud," "Liar," "Immature": BJP Leaders Launch Coordinated Attack
The ruling party left no room for ambiguity. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi dismissed Gandhi as an "immature, part-time politician." Giriraj Singh declared, "There is no bigger liar than Rahul Gandhi in this country." Sanjay Jaiswal called him a "fraud."
Behind the coordinated assault lies a calculated political calculus. With the Budget Session 2026 entering its decisive phase, the BJP is framing the Congress leader as habitually untruthful—particularly on the India-US trade deal.
Piyush Goyal’s Point-by-Point Rebuttal
Union Minister Piyush Goyal delivered what may be the government’s most detailed defence yet. He accused Gandhi of "spreading lies without verifying facts" on the trade agreement.
"About 90-95% of Indian farm produce—dairy, poultry, rice, wheat, soybean, maize, banana, strawberry, cherry, orange, vegetables, ethanol, tobacco, meat, pulses, millets—are not part of the deal," Goyal stated. "What has been opened was done strategically, benefitting our farmers."
The subtext was unmistakable: the BJP believes it has found a winning issue to counter Congress’s Adani narrative.
Priyanka Gandhi Denies Speaker Abuse Allegation
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had earlier posted a video claiming opposition MPs "abused the Speaker" in Om Birla’s chamber—allegedly with Priyanka Gandhi present.
Priyanka rejected this outright. "The claim is false. I was sitting quietly. One or two MPs expressed feelings, but I did not provoke anyone," she said. The exchange underscores how parliamentary proceedings are now spilling into public domain via social media.
Modi Praises Sitharaman: "Budget Will Transform Economy"
Amid the uproar, Prime Minister Modi struck a sharply different tone while intervening during Sitharaman’s reply. He described her speech as presenting a "complete picture" of how the budget contributes to economic transformation.
The contrast was deliberate. On one side: disruption, disqualification notices, and personal attacks. On the other: a government projecting stability and long-term vision.
What Happens Next?
Legally, the Rahul Gandhi disqualification notice faces hurdles. In 2023, his membership was revoked after a defamation conviction—later stayed by the Supreme Court. This time, the government appears wary of repeating a process that ultimately gifted Gandhi a sympathy wave.
Instead, expunging portions of his speech seems the likelier immediate outcome.
Expert Take: "The BJP wants Rahul Gandhi discredited, not martyred," observed political analyst Dr. Reena Sharma. "Expunging remarks allows them to say 'he misled Parliament' without creating a legal confrontation that could backfire."
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t merely parliamentary skirmishing. With 2026 being an election-heavy year, both sides are testing narratives. For the BJP, Rahul Gandhi as "compulsive liar" is a useful counter to Congress’s "Modi-Adani" axis. For Gandhi, disqualification threats only reinforce his self-portrayal as a target of establishment power.
As the Budget Session 2026 continues, one thing is clear: the real debate isn’t happening inside the chamber. It’s being framed, in real-time, for the news cycle outside.
