Govt Shelves Motion Against Rahul Gandhi

The Centre has temporarily dropped its plan to move a privilege motion against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed the development on Thursday, saying the government decided to step back after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey introduced a substantive motion seeking cancellation of Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership.

Why the Government Paused Its Plan

Rijiju said the government had earlier considered moving a motion over remarks made by Gandhi in Parliament. According to him, the issue related to Gandhi referring to an unpublished book and allegedly using objectionable language against the Prime Minister.

However, with Dubey filing a private member’s substantive motion, the government chose to temporarily hold back its own proposal.

Rijiju said that once the motion is admitted, a decision will be taken in consultation with the Speaker on whether the matter should be referred to the Privileges Committee, the Ethics Committee, or brought directly before the House for discussion. He clarified that no final decision has been made so far.

What Triggered the Row

The controversy began after Gandhi cited Four Stars of Destiny, an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane, during a discussion in the Lok Sabha.

The Speaker had earlier ruled that unpublished material should not be quoted in the House. Despite this, Gandhi displayed a copy of the book during his remarks.

The government has maintained that the book is still under review by the Ministry of Defence and that quoting it in Parliament was inappropriate. It has also said that the claims made using the book distort facts.

Allegations Raised in the Motion

In his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dubey accused Gandhi of using the floor of the House to criticise constitutional institutions, including the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.

Dubey also made allegations regarding Gandhi’s alleged links with international organisations and individuals. He sought permission to debate the matter in Parliament and called for cancellation of Gandhi’s membership.

These allegations have been strongly contested in political circles, and no official findings have been announced.

Political Tension Continues

The development comes amid heightened tensions between the treasury benches and the Opposition in Parliament.

Rijiju said the government had been prepared to act over Gandhi’s conduct in the House but chose to allow the private member’s motion to proceed first.

As of now, the Speaker’s office has not announced the next procedural step.

The issue is expected to remain a key flashpoint in Parliament in the coming days, depending on how the motion is handled and whether it is admitted for discussion.