Following his conviction in the Modi surname case, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following the last session of Parliament. Smiriti blames Rahul Gandhi for the Manipur tragedy.
Union Minister Smriti Irani cited former MP Rahul Gandhi’s name in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, disputing the accusation of Congress MP Amee Yajnik, who questioned whether the women ministers would speak on Manipur.
“When will you have the guts to discuss Chhattisgarh, when will you have the courage to discuss what is happening in Bihar? When will you have the courage to tell us how women are raped in Congres-ruled states. When will you have the guts to tell how Rahul Gandhi put Manipur on fire? Do not cast doubt on the women ministers of the cabinet,” Smriti Irani said.
The video of Smriti Irani’s outburst, labeled a meltdown by the opposition, quickly went viral. When Smriti Irani mentioned Rahul Gandhi, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was sitting in front of her, turned and looked at her, as seen in the video.
Without mentioning Smriti Irani, Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that she observed a meltdown in the House as well as a ‘toxic preoccupation’.
“I hope the minister recovers quickly and realizes he has a greater responsibility to the nation,” Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted.
This is the first session of Parliament without Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified following his conviction in the Modi surname case during the previous session.
Supriya Shrinate, Congress leader, attacked Smriti Irani for her ‘theatrics,’ saying the ‘theatrics’ will not bring her dead conscience back to life.
“You remained silent for 78 days in Manipur.”You remained silent about Hathras, Lakhimpur, Ankita Bhandari, and Shahjahanpur. You didn’t say anything for our athletes. “You have failed women, @smritiirani,” Shrinate tweeted.
Smriti Irani attacked Rahul Gandhi again on Twitter following her Rajya Sabha speech. Smriti Irani, who shared an article on Rahul Gandhi’s old contentious declaration that the Muslim League is a secular party, tweeted:
“Ladies and Gentlemen- the Rahul Gandhi brand of secularism- his unholy alliance declares Hindus to be burnt alive in their temples. Hindu hatred is nothing new to the family, but openly threatening Hindus…that is a new low, Mr. Gandhi.”
Smriti Irani’s assault came after Muslim Youth League members in Kerala were arrested for shouting obscene slogans at a Manipur protest.
The incident underscores the deep political divisions and animosity between parties, with Manipur becoming a flashpoint for intense debates and accusations.
It remains to be seen how this incident will impact future parliamentary sessions and political dynamics in the country.
