Rahul Gandhi’s inaugural speech in the new parliament sparked controversy when sections of it, including accusations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, were redacted on Tuesday for violating legislative rules.
The speaker of the lower house made the decision a day after Gandhi delivered his first speech as the opposition leader in the chambers, marking his inaugural position after two decades as a lawmaker representing the main opposition Congress party.
Sections removed from the live telecast of Gandhi’s speech included his criticisms of Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging their involvement in religious hate and violence.
Gandhi also mentioned industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani in connection with Modi and his government, but these references were removed by Speaker Om Birla, as shown in parliament records.
After the speech, federal ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju informed reporters that they had met with Birla to highlight “inaccuracies” in Gandhi’s speech. They were assured that their concerns would be reviewed.
Gandhi, belonging to a dynasty that has produced three Indian prime ministers, became the first leader of the opposition in the lower house in a decade. This position had remained unclaimed by any opposition party in the last two terms due to their inability to secure the necessary numbers.
