BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of avoiding debates in Parliament

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Rahul Gandhi. File | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of demanding open debates with Prime Minister Narendra Modi while “consistently shying away from debates” in Parliament.

“The Constitution-makers of India have designated Parliament as the highest forum for debate. If a person holding the position of Leader of the Opposition says that he does not wish to participate in debates in the House, it amounts to an insult to the vision of the Constitution-makers and the basic spirit of the Constitution,” said BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi at a press briefing.

“MPs are sent to Parliament to debate issues, but Rahul Gandhi has consistently shied away from debates. When the no-confidence motion was brought in 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began speaking, and Rahul Gandhi walked away,” he said, alleging that the same had happened when Mr. Modi started speaking on the Manipur issue.

Targeting Mr. Gandhi over the mock Parliament recently held by the Congress-led INDIA bloc, Mr. Trivedi said the Leader of the Opposition should understand that Mr. Modi had been the unanimous leader of the National Democratic Alliance for the past 12 years, whereas Mr. Gandhi was not the leader of the Opposition bloc.

“Rahul Gandhi may organise mock debates to console himself and do whatever he wishes, as he is already making a mockery of democracy, the Constitution and Parliament. His demand also amounts to making a mockery of Parliament,” he said.

He also criticised Mr. Gandhi for making “baseless remarks” against the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Punjab, in an attempt to divert attention from his own “failures”.

“Referring to the commitment to eradicate drugs from Punjab by a stipulated date, Rahul Gandhi had remarked that the government would not remain in power until then. It is surprising that Rahul Gandhi does not understand the strength of a firm resolve and the ability to translate it into achievement. If he wishes to learn, he should learn from our leaders,” he said.

The BJP leader cited Mr. Shah’s past commitment to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026. “Rahul Gandhi should listen carefully: alongside the eradication of Naxalism, a record has been set over the past 12 months, the first such achievement in the last 47 years. During this period, there have been no CRPF [Central Reserve Police Force] casualties,” Mr. Trivedi said.

“Today, India has succeeded in exercising such effective control over terrorism that it has been eradicated from the entire country, except for three to four districts in South Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi’s predictions have been repeatedly proven wrong,” he said.

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