Rahul Gandhi has never bowed before this government, says Priyanka

Priyanka Gandhi defends Rahul Gandhi, asserting he never bows to the government, amid criticism of a BJP minister's Nehru quote.

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has “never bowed before this government”, and the ruling side was unable to “digest the truth he speaks in the House”, Lok Sabha member from Wayanad and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).

Ms. Vadra also took a swipe at the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju for invoking Jawaharlal Nehru during a parliamentary debate, despite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) long-standing criticism of India’s first Prime Minister.

Parliament Budget session updates on March 10, 2026

Her remarks came after Mr. Rijiju, during the debate on the resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, quoted Nehru’s observations made in 1954 while opposing a motion to remove the then Speaker G.V. Mavalankar. Nehru had described the resolution as a “vicious thing”, and questioned whether those who had signed it had even read it carefully.

Mr. Rijiju also took a dig at the Congress, saying that if Ms. Vadra had been made the Leader of the Opposition, the Congress’s performance would have been better. “Priyanka Gandhi is sitting there and is laughing. If they had made her the LoP, the performance would have been better. At least she sits in the House, listens, and also smiles,” Mr. Rijiju said.

After Mr. Rijiju’s speech, Ms. Vadra sought to respond to the observations made by the Minister.