“I Have the Right to Speak”: Rahul Gandhi Slams Government for Silencing Opposition in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Congress leader and newly appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday strongly criticized the central government for allegedly blocking opposition voices in Parliament, claiming that ministers from the treasury benches were being allowed to speak while opposition leaders were deliberately muted.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said, “The Defence Minister and others from the government are allowed to speak, but opposition leaders are not. I am the Leader of the Opposition. I have the right to speak, but they are not letting me. This is their new approach.”

He alleged that the government was dismantling the convention of parliamentary democracy by refusing the opposition space to question and raise critical issues. “Discussion will only happen if they allow it. If ministers can speak, then the opposition should also be heard. We had several key issues to raise, but we weren’t given the opportunity,” he said.

Gandhi’s remarks come amid an ongoing impasse in Parliament, with repeated disruptions and walkouts over issues such as national security, inflation, and alleged misuse of central agencies.

Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also backed her brother’s statement, saying, “The Leader of the Opposition must be given the right to speak in Parliament. Silencing the opposition is a direct attack on democratic traditions.”

The Congress party, along with other INDIA bloc constituents, has accused the BJP-led government of monopolizing the House and undermining parliamentary debate. They claim that rules are being bent to limit opposition interventions and that debates are now reduced to one-sided monologues.

The escalating standoff is likely to further strain proceedings in the ongoing session, with opposition MPs demanding a guaranteed speaking slot for the LoP and other leaders.