(Photo: ANI) NEW DELHI: A political rift erupted within the INDIA bloc on Tuesday after Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas questioned leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Parliament during the Winter Session and criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s participation post-session in “chai pe charcha” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Speaking to ANI, Brittas took a sharp dig at Priyanka for attending a tea meeting hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the conclusion of the Winter Session, saying the move “sent a wrong message” to the public, coming just hours after the BJP “bulldozed” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). “This has been a matter of concern for people like us… It was not a good scene for us to see Priyanka Gandhi and others sitting at the tea party along with the Prime Minister,” he said.”We would have expected better wisdom to guide them. I can also tell you that for comparatively insignificant issues, we stayed away from such tea parties,” he told ANI.Referring to past parliamentary protests, he said the Opposition had deliberately avoided similar meetings earlier. “Last monsoon session, the opposition stayed away from such tea parties, because the government was not prepared for a discussion on SIR,” he said, adding that, “Earlier, when the Waqf Bill was bulldozed, we stayed away.”Calling the latest episode particularly damaging, Brittas said, “Compared to all those issues, this was a humongous issue… Such a spectacle of Priyanka Gandhi having a cup of tea with the Prime Minister. Just a few hours after the bulldozing of Mahatma Gandhi, it was not only a sad scene, it has sent a wrong message to the people of the country.””I don’t subscribe to such bonhomie which is detrimental to the unity of the opposition and the betterment of the poor people of this country,” he added.Brittas also raised concerns over Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Parliament during the Winter Session. “Why travel abroad when the Parliament session is on? We had already decided that Rahul Gandhi, as part of the opposition, should be present when the three anti-people bills were piloted in Parliament. However, it is for him and his political party to decide,” he told IANS.Rahul Gandhi was on a five-day visit to Germany, where he held meetings with former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, among others, to discuss issues of mutual interest.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 MediaVideos’90% Own Tech…Took Out Rafale, S-400′: Asim Munir Makes Absurd Claims On India-Pak Conflict’Nukes Are Tools For Escalation, Not Peace’: Student Exposes Munir’s Mindset At India vs Pak Debate’India Faces Two War Realities: Counter Terror Strikes And Long Conflicts’, Says CDS Anil ChauhanRahul Gandhi Attacks Modi Govt In Germany, Says ‘West, India Handed Over Production To China’Russia Calls For Reduced Bangladesh-India Tensions, Recalls 1971 WarNew Video Reveals Final Moments of Hindu Man Dipu Before Lynching in BangladeshIndians Trapped By H-1B Renewal Chaos As US VP JD Vance Defends Visa Curbs As Christian PoliticsEx-TMC MLA Humayun Kabir Launches New Party, Targets Mamata Banerjee Ahead of PollsMuhammad Yunus Interim Rule Sparks Alarm, Indian Diplomats Back Hasina On Anti India Narrative ShiftYogi Adityanath Says Vande Mataram Became Victim of Congress Appeasement Politics123PhotostoriesCuriosity Corner: How do aeroplanes stay in the sky?Nutrition fact of the day: 7 science-backed nutritional facts about bone brothHollywood celebrity breakups and divorces in 2025: From Nicole Kidman-Keith Urban to Katy Perry-Orlando Bloom5 parenting lessons 2025 taught us8 traditional ragi dishes that have stood the test of time and why they are a winter must haveWhat is the “golden pyramid of fat loss” and why do people mostly start at the wrong levelBaby boy names that means positivityHow to grow healthy papaya tree from seeds in pots in your balconyShin Min-Ah weds Kim Woo-Bin: Shin Min-Ah stuns in the most stunning bridal gown ever! See stylish wedding picsDoes Niagara Falls freeze over in winter? Here’s the truth123Hot PicksUAE WeatherPAN-Aadhaar linkingGold price predictionGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingMax Payne Remake Release DateResident Evil Code Veronica Release DateJade Cargill and Bradon Net WorthJosh Allen and Hailee Steinfields HolidayChristen GoffPhilip RiversPaul Heyman and Marla Heyman Net WorthAaron RodgersJade Cargill and Brandon Net WorthCharles Barkley
NEW DELHI: A political rift erupted within the INDIA bloc on Tuesday after Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas questioned leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Parliament during the Winter Session and criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s participation post-session in “chai pe charcha” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Speaking to ANI, Brittas took a sharp dig at Priyanka for attending a tea meeting hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the conclusion of the Winter Session, saying the move “sent a wrong message” to the public, coming just hours after the BJP “bulldozed” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). “This has been a matter of concern for people like us… It was not a good scene for us to see Priyanka Gandhi and others sitting at the tea party along with the Prime Minister,” he said.“We would have expected better wisdom to guide them. I can also tell you that for comparatively insignificant issues, we stayed away from such tea parties,” he told ANI.Referring to past parliamentary protests, he said the Opposition had deliberately avoided similar meetings earlier. “Last monsoon session, the opposition stayed away from such tea parties, because the government was not prepared for a discussion on SIR,” he said, adding that, “Earlier, when the Waqf Bill was bulldozed, we stayed away.”Calling the latest episode particularly damaging, Brittas said, “Compared to all those issues, this was a humongous issue… Such a spectacle of Priyanka Gandhi having a cup of tea with the Prime Minister. Just a few hours after the bulldozing of Mahatma Gandhi, it was not only a sad scene, it has sent a wrong message to the people of the country.”“I don’t subscribe to such bonhomie which is detrimental to the unity of the opposition and the betterment of the poor people of this country,” he added.Brittas also raised concerns over Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Parliament during the Winter Session. “Why travel abroad when the Parliament session is on? We had already decided that Rahul Gandhi, as part of the opposition, should be present when the three anti-people bills were piloted in Parliament. However, it is for him and his political party to decide,” he told IANS.Rahul Gandhi was on a five-day visit to Germany, where he held meetings with former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, among others, to discuss issues of mutual interest.
