Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi (C) and Rajnath Singh (R) NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha witnessed a major showdown on Monday as leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi rose to speak during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.Rahul Gandhi began his speech by quoting excerpts from the memoir of former Army chief General MM Naravane, triggering immediate objections from defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah. Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Open Challenge’ To Amit Shah In Lok Sabha Over SIR Gets ‘I Will Decide’ ReplyBoth ministers protested on procedural grounds, arguing that the book had not yet been officially published and therefore could not be cited in the House.The Congress leader, however, insisted that the document he was referring to was “authentic” and that he was well within his rights to quote from it. He said he had not originally intended to raise the issue, but decided to do so after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya questioned the patriotism of the Congress party earlier in the debate.“No debate on who is patriotic and who is not. Our patriotism is not buried,” Rahul said.Rajnath Singh countered the reference, maintaining that the memoir had not been published and therefore could not be brought into parliamentary proceedings.Home minister Amit Shah also hit back sharply. “I listened carefully to the speech of the honourable Member of Parliament, Tejasvi Surya. At no point did he question the nationalism or character of the Opposition,” Shah said.“In his speech, referring to the period from 2004 to 2014, he spoke about nationalism, the country’s culture and language, and said that these were not upheld by the government during that time. He did not question the nationalism or character of the Opposition anywhere… Secondly, leaders of the Opposition are saying they are not being allowed to speak, while they themselves are violating Rule 389. How do we want to run the House?” Shah added.Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla intervened, citing parliamentary rules that prohibit quoting from books or newspaper clippings on matters not directly related to House proceedings.“The defence minister, home minister and the Prime Minister raise questions on our party, party leaders, and our nationalism. This article writes about the PM’s character… This is neither about China, nor the PM,” Rahul said.Opposition members, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accused the government of not allowing the LoP to complete his speech, leading to loud exchanges across the House. As the uproar intensified, Speaker Birla eventually adjourned the Lok Sabha.Earlier in the day, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, while seconding the Motion of Thanks, had launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led UPA government, describing the period from 2004 to 2014 as a “decade of lost opportunities” and a “narrative of excuses”. He argued that the contrast between “weak leadership” and “great leadership” clearly set apart the Congress and the BJP.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBudget 2026: 10 Changes In Income Tax Rules That Will Reshape How Indians Save And File ReturnsFrom Minerals Gift To Diplomatic Snub: Pakistan Misses Out On Key US Meet While India Takes SeatSanjay Raut Raises Doubts Over Ajit Pawar Plane Crash, Seeks Thorough Probe’Cricket Or Cowardice?’ Opposition MPs Lash BCCI After Pakistan Boycott India Clash In T20 World CupPakistan’s Balochistan Operation Under Scrutiny As India Calls Out Deflection Tactics To Shift BlameShashi Tharoor Claims India ‘Surrendered’ To US Pressure By Stopping Chabahar Port Fund in BudgetFM Nirmala Sitharaman Cites Operation Sindoor To Defend A Decade Of Defence Investment And Reforms’India Now Central To Global Growth’, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman As Elon Musk Flags Power ShiftShots Fired Outside Rohit Shetty’s Bungalow In Mumbai, Cops Detain FivePakistan Boycott Will Hurt Its Own Cricket, Says Former Cricketer Madan Lal123PhotostoriesDalai Lama’s gentle wisdom for kids: “Be kind whenever possible, it is always possible.”How Bengaluru’s Hebbal flyover ramp beat a 10-year standstillWhat is Purple Honey and how does this rare honey get the unique colourTimes when Sabrina Carpenter dazzled the world and made a statement with her fashion senseTop 10 vegetarian Chinese recipes you can easily make at home7 animals that exist only in Antarctica and why they are a traveller’s delight8 unique residential buildings on Earth; where creativity meets lifePune–Mumbai high-speed rail: The mega project that could cut travel time by an hourRohit Shetty in Mumbai firing scare: Gunshots break midnight silence in JuhuHow to make Beetroot, Sweet Potato & Walnut Kebab at home123Hot PicksBudget 2026Gold Silver PricesCigarette Prices HikeFebruary 2026 bank changesIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingOKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets InjuryMLB Trade RumorsDrake MayeDeshaun WatsonNHL Trade UpdateSnowboarder RyanMLB TradeRyan ClarkTua TagovailoaJustin Herbert
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha witnessed a major showdown on Monday as leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi rose to speak during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.Rahul Gandhi began his speech by quoting excerpts from the memoir of former Army chief General MM Naravane, triggering immediate objections from defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah.
Both ministers protested on procedural grounds, arguing that the book had not yet been officially published and therefore could not be cited in the House.The Congress leader, however, insisted that the document he was referring to was “authentic” and that he was well within his rights to quote from it. He said he had not originally intended to raise the issue, but decided to do so after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya questioned the patriotism of the Congress party earlier in the debate.“No debate on who is patriotic and who is not. Our patriotism is not buried,” Rahul said.Rajnath Singh countered the reference, maintaining that the memoir had not been published and therefore could not be brought into parliamentary proceedings.Home minister Amit Shah also hit back sharply. “I listened carefully to the speech of the honourable Member of Parliament, Tejasvi Surya. At no point did he question the nationalism or character of the Opposition,” Shah said.“In his speech, referring to the period from 2004 to 2014, he spoke about nationalism, the country’s culture and language, and said that these were not upheld by the government during that time. He did not question the nationalism or character of the Opposition anywhere… Secondly, leaders of the Opposition are saying they are not being allowed to speak, while they themselves are violating Rule 389. How do we want to run the House?” Shah added.Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla intervened, citing parliamentary rules that prohibit quoting from books or newspaper clippings on matters not directly related to House proceedings.“The defence minister, home minister and the Prime Minister raise questions on our party, party leaders, and our nationalism. This article writes about the PM’s character… This is neither about China, nor the PM,” Rahul said.Opposition members, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accused the government of not allowing the LoP to complete his speech, leading to loud exchanges across the House. As the uproar intensified, Speaker Birla eventually adjourned the Lok Sabha.Earlier in the day, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, while seconding the Motion of Thanks, had launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led UPA government, describing the period from 2004 to 2014 as a “decade of lost opportunities” and a “narrative of excuses”. He argued that the contrast between “weak leadership” and “great leadership” clearly set apart the Congress and the BJP.
