Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday strongly criticised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “magician,” saying the comments amounted to an insult not only to the Prime Minister but also to the citizens of the country.

The controversy erupted during a heated debate in the Lok Sabha over the government’s defence of three contentious Bills, when Rahul Gandhi used a metaphor involving a magician to criticise the Prime Minister. His remarks, referencing “the magician of Balakot,” “the magician of demonetisation,” and “the magician of Sindoor,” triggered uproar in the House and led to sharp objections from ruling party members.

Rajnath Singh responded by calling the comments “very unfortunate” and said they could not be justified under parliamentary decorum. He argued that Narendra Modi holds the office of Prime Minister because of the mandate given by the people of India, and therefore, any repeated personal remarks against him also indirectly disrespected the electorate.

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The Defence Minister further urged that the comments be removed from the official parliamentary record and appealed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take action. He also stated that Rahul Gandhi should issue an apology to the nation, reiterating that elected representatives must maintain dignity in public discourse, especially inside Parliament.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also joined the criticism, saying Gandhi’s remarks mocked “Operation Sindoor” by calling it “magic,” and in doing so, allegedly disrespected the armed forces as well as national institutions. The exchange added to the already tense atmosphere in the House during discussions on the proposed legislation.

The incident reflects ongoing political friction between the ruling party and the opposition, with both sides accusing each other of crossing parliamentary boundaries as debates on sensitive policy matters continue to escalate in intensity.

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