New Delhi buzzed with political tension on Thursday as reactions poured in over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary address. While the ruling coalition hailed the 2026-27 Union Budget, the opposition cried foul, accusing it of ignoring the masses. Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq lambasted the budget, claiming it served only 5% of the population, sidelining youth and women.
Barq didn’t hold back on other issues either. Speaking to reporters in Parliament premises, he accused the government of targeting madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, only for courts to intervene repeatedly. ‘People fund these institutions out of goodwill, not government aid,’ he asserted, hinting at a broader agenda to suppress Muslims.
The spotlight, however, fell on Gandhi’s reference to an unpublished book during his speech on the President’s address. BJP MP Harsh Malhotra was scathing: ‘Rahul Gandhi doesn’t know how to speak properly. He deliberately diverted to unrelated matters to vent frustration.’
Echoing this, actress-turned-MP Kangana Ranaut branded Gandhi’s antics as a blatant rule violation. ‘Quoting an unpublished book is criminal. He disrupted the House for hours without respect for its dignity,’ she fumed.
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant urged caution against comparing past policies, noting technological and societal shifts since 2005. Meanwhile, SP MP Javed Ali Khan stressed that foreign funding probes fall under the Home Ministry’s purview, not individual accusations.
SP MP Neeraj Maurya defended the opposition’s right to speak, lamenting the government’s reluctance for debate. Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde reminded that Parliament runs on rules, questioning Gandhi’s grasp of decorum as LoP. BJP’s Nishikant Dubey quipped that free speech comes with restraint, pointing out Gandhi’s inability to defend the book’s contents.
As the dust settles, this episode underscores deepening divides ahead of key legislative sessions, with both sides digging in on budget critiques and procedural propriety.