New Delhi’s political corridors are buzzing after a group of Congress women MPs fired off a strongly worded letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday. The missive, led by Tamil Nadu MP S Jothimani, voices deep dismay over what they call baseless smears against opposition women lawmakers and a blatant disregard for parliamentary norms.
Signed by prominent figures including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, R Sudha, Jyotsna Charandas Mahant, and Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, the letter paints a picture of a House under siege. ‘We write with profound sorrow and a strong sense of constitutional duty,’ it begins, accusing the Speaker of being compelled to echo false and defamatory claims from the ruling party against Congress women MPs.
The core grievance revolves around the debate on the President’s address. Tradition dictates equal speaking time for government and opposition before the Prime Minister responds. Yet, for four straight days, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was deliberately denied the floor—a move the MPs brand as unprecedented and unforgivable.
Tensions escalated when eight INDIA bloc MPs faced suspension at the ruling party’s behest, while a BJP lawmaker got a free pass for crude remarks about former PMs. The women MPs recount their meeting with Birla, where they demanded justice and suspension of the offending BJP MP. Birla acknowledged a ‘serious mistake’ and asked them to return later, only to later cite waiting for government input—raising red flags about his autonomy.
The plot thickened as PM Modi skipped his scheduled address at 5 PM, flouting convention amid opposition protests. The next day, Birla issued a statement defending the PM’s absence by leveling grave charges against Congress women MPs. ‘Our protests were peaceful, resolute, and fully democratic,’ they retort, highlighting their humble origins and decades of grassroots struggle.
They argue these attacks target their integrity simply for holding the government accountable. ‘The PM’s absence stemmed from fear, not our threats,’ the letter asserts. As proud Congress representatives championing love, peace, and constitutional values, they refuse to be intimidated. The plea to Birla is clear: reclaim your role as impartial guardian of the House.
In a poignant close, they urge him to stand firm against ruling party pressure, ensuring history remembers him as a defender of democracy, not a capitulator to those eroding it.