The ongoing political tension in India has reached a new peak after the central government released a sensational video from the Lok Sabha proceedings of February 4th. This follows a shocking claim by Speaker Om Birla, who suggested that he had advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stay away from the House due to intelligence regarding a potential “physical confrontation” or “attack” planned by opposition members. The video, shared by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, reportedly shows Congress MPs carrying banners and placards while aggressively surrounding the Prime Minister’s vacant seat, refusing to move even after interventions by senior ministers.
The controversy stems from the Budget Session’s debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. Typically, the session concludes with a speech by the Prime Minister; however, in a rare move, the motion was passed without his address due to persistent chaos. Minister Rijiju lambasted the behavior of the opposition, specifically pointing out female Congress MPs, stating that if the treasury bench members had not maintained extreme patience and restraint, the situation could have spiraled out of control. He emphasized that the BJP leadership had issued clear instructions to their MPs not to engage in physical altercations despite provocation.
The root of the opposition’s anger was triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s mention of former Army Chief M.M. Naravane’s autobiography, which discussed sensitive border issues. The Speaker maintained that his decision to cancel the PM’s speech and adjourn the house was a necessary security measure, as he had prior information about a “plan” to gherao (surround) the Prime Minister. While the government uses the video as evidence of “unparliamentary conduct,” the opposition continues to protest, leading to the suspension of several MPs and a deepening deadlock in the Parliament.
