Nishikant Dubey, a BJP MP, has initiated formal proceedings, in a bid to move a substantive motion, seeking the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, from the Lok Sabha, intensifying the confrontation between the ruling party and the Grand Old party. Dubey’s move follows heated exchanges between Gandhi and BJP MPs over issues including the alleged circulation of former Army chief MM Naravane’s unpublished manuscript.
Nishikant Dubey questioned how Gandhi had obtained access to Naravane’s unpublished book and suggested the Congress leader had questionable links abroad. “Who is funding Rahul Gandhi, whose motive is to destroy the nation? How did he get the unpublished book? The Lok Sabha must reject Rahul Gandhi’s membership,” Dubey said.
This is not the first time Gandhi has faced the possibility of disqualification. In March 2023, he was unseated from Parliament following his conviction in a defamation case over remarks deemed insulting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A court in Gujarat had sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment for a 2019 speech in which he linked PM Modi’s surname with two fugitive businessmen, asking how “thieves” shared the same last name. His disqualification was subsequently stayed.
Senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury defended Gandhi and criticised Dubey’s action, suggesting it was driven by political ambition. “Nishikant Dubey wants to become a minister in the government, which is why he is talking about cancelling Rahul Gandhi’s membership. This makes no sense,” she said.
Chowdhury also questioned the frequent invocation of privilege motions, recalling that she herself once faced such a move over bringing her dog onto Parliament premises. “Do BJP MPs understand what a privilege motion is?” she asked.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Sanjay Jaiswal, has written to the Speaker seeking the expunction of several remarks made by Gandhi during the Union Budget debate. Jaiswal alleged that Gandhi used “unparliamentary” expressions and levelled “baseless allegations” against the Prime Minister and the government.
