Congress Submits Privilege Notice Against PM Modi Over Lok Sabha Speech After Bill Defeat
Congress moves privilege notice against PM Modi over parliamentary remarks.
The Congress party on Tuesday submitted a privilege notice in the Lok Sabha against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his national address on April 18 amounted to “abuse of power” and cast aspersions on Opposition members for their conduct in Parliament. The notice was moved by Congress MP K. C. Venugopal, who wrote to Speaker Om Birla seeking action on the matter.
Venugopal described the Prime Minister’s remarks as “unprecedented,” arguing that it was inappropriate for the head of government to publicly criticise Opposition MPs over the defeat of a government bill in Parliament. He said such comments amounted to a breach of parliamentary privilege and undermined the institutional dignity of the House.
The controversy stems from the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on April 17 during a special session. The proposed legislation required a two-thirds majority as it was a constitutional amendment. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance did not have the numbers on its own and required support from Opposition parties. While the government described it as a women’s reservation measure, Opposition parties raised objections to provisions related to delimitation of constituencies.
Also Read: Kiren Rijiju Criticises Congress After Women’s Reservation Bill Fails In Lok Sabha
In his April 18 address, Prime Minister Modi criticised Opposition parties for blocking what he referred to as the women’s reservation bill, accusing them of acting out of political self-interest. Opposition parties, including the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and All India Trinamool Congress, maintained that while they supported women’s reservation, they opposed the inclusion of delimitation-related clauses in the proposal.
Venugopal’s letter argued that attributing motives to MPs for their parliamentary speeches violates established norms of privilege and amounts to contempt of the House. He stressed that parliamentary privilege exists to protect the independence of legislators in carrying out their duties, and any breach could invite disciplinary action if upheld by the Lok Sabha.
The Congress further alleged that the Prime Minister used an official national address for political messaging, calling it a “misuse of power” and an attack on parliamentary democracy. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the address, claiming it violated democratic norms, especially at a time when the Model Code of Conduct is in force in several states due to ongoing elections.
Also Read: Centre Issues FAQs Explaining Women’s Reservation, Lok Sabha Expansion And Delimitation
