Never allowed to speak in Lok Sabha, says Rahul

On Day 1 of Monsoon session of Parliament, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of not allowing the Opposition, including him to speak in the Lower House.

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Speaking to the reporters after the House was adjourned for the second time due to protests, the Congress leader said he was being denied the right to speak as the LoP.

“I am the Leader of Opposition. It is my right, but I am never allowed to speak,” he said. “The question is that the Defence Minister and their (BJP) people are allowed to speak, but if someone from the Opposition wants to say something, he is not allowed.”

He described the situation as a “new approach” and took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he “ran out of the House in a second.”

The Opposition MPs protested, demanding a debate on Operation Sindoor — India’s military response following the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaker Om Birla assured them that time would be given after Question Hour.

Later, the government assured the House that the debate on Pahalgam and its aftermath would be held next week.

Earlier, the House paid tributes to former MPs, victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, and those killed in the Ahmedabad plane crash. Speaker Birla also lauded the ISRO and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, announcing a detailed discussion on the space mission later in the session.