Amidst the Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday (February 5, 2026), a massive political turmoil erupted when a war of words intensified between Speaker Om Birla and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi. The Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address was passed without Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address, upon which the Speaker expressed his deep displeasure in the House.
What is the entire controversy?
Om Birla’s Serious Claim: Citing the incident of Wednesday, the Speaker said that Congress MPs had surrounded the Prime Minister’s chair from all sides. Expressing concern, he went as far as saying that “anything could have happened yesterday,” which is a big question mark on the security and dignity of the House.
Priyanka Gandhi’s Counterattack: Priyanka Gandhi gave a sharp reaction to these claims by the Speaker. Terming it “rubbish,” she taunted that the Prime Minister is hiding behind the Speaker instead of facing the House. She termed the opposition’s protest as justified and called the ruling party’s allegations baseless.
Amidst the turmoil in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi launched a direct attack on the attitude of the Prime Minister and the government. She flatly rejected the Speaker’s claims, terming it an excuse to avoid discussion.
Priyanka Gandhi’s Sharp Attacks
Question on Courage: Priyanka Gandhi sarcastically said that the Prime Minister could not muster the courage to come to the House. She taunted that “Yesterday the PM did not come to the House just because three women were standing in front of the bench.”
Accusation of fleeing from discussion: The Congress MP alleged that the government actually does not want a debate on any serious issue. She raised the question that when there is no discussion happening, talking like this is just an attempt to divert attention.
Taunt on Speaker’s Role: She said in strong words that the Prime Minister is hidden behind the Speaker instead of coming forward himself. Describing the Speaker’s statement about an ‘untoward incident’ as complete “rubbish,” Priyanka called it misleading the public.
Major points of Om Birla’s statement:
Apprehension of an unexpected incident: The Speaker claimed that he had such concrete and secret information that some Congress MPs could have reached very close to the Prime Minister and carried out a major untoward or unexpected incident.
Concern over Security: Birla said that if such an incident had occurred, it would not only be condemnable but the most shameful in the history of Indian democracy.
PM did not come on Speaker’s advice: The most important point was that Om Birla himself admitted that he had urged Prime Minister Modi not to come to the House. Considering the Speaker’s security concerns, the Prime Minister accepted his advice and did not come to the House.
On Wednesday (February 4, 2026), Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-awaited address in the Lok Sabha fell victim to the uproar. Actually, PM Modi was supposed to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, but due to the fierce protest by opposition women MPs, the proceedings of the House had to be stopped midway.
Inside Story of the Uproar:
Adjournment of proceedings: Seeing the uproar of the opposition, Presiding Officer Sandhya Ray adjourned the proceedings of the House, due to which the Prime Minister’s speech could not take place.
BJP’s Serious Allegation: Making a big claim on this sequence of events, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that many women MPs of the opposition crossed the dignity of the House and entered the ‘Well’.
March towards Prime Minister’s security and chair: According to Tiwari, women MPs started moving towards the Prime Minister’s empty chair. Senior ministers present there warned them repeatedly to return to their seats and informed that the Prime Minister was about to arrive, but the MPs completely ignored these appeals.
