Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has once again ignited a political firestorm in New Delhi, taking direct aim at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. In a series of pointed statements on August 23, 2025, Rijiju accused Gandhi of speaking "nonsense" merely to capture media attention, insisting that such tactics would not translate into electoral gains for the Congress party. His remarks, delivered in an exclusive interview with ANI and echoed in subsequent media coverage, come against the backdrop of a turbulent monsoon session of Parliament marked by persistent opposition disruptions and escalating tensions over electoral reforms.
Rijiju did not mince words as he questioned Gandhi's approach to political discourse. "Rahul Gandhi speaks nonsense to grab headlines but that will not convert into a vote bank," Rijiju told ANI, underscoring his belief that the Indian electorate supports leaders who work in the national interest. He elaborated, "In any election, people support those who work in the national interest. Rahul Gandhi speaks nonsense to grab headlines, but that will not convert into a vote bank. Had I been in his place, I would have asked the government questions about national interest." According to Rijiju, Gandhi's focus on sensational statements rather than substantive debate is a strategy doomed to fail at the ballot box.
But Rijiju's critique did not stop at Gandhi's rhetorical style. He went further, charging the Congress party with engaging in "anti-national" activities by attacking the pillars of India's democracy and constitutional institutions. Specifically, Rijiju pointed to Congress's criticism of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India (ECI), suggesting that such actions undermine the country's democratic framework. "The way Congress indulges in anti-national activities and attacks democracy, people of the country will never vote the party back to power," he asserted, making it clear that he views these attacks as not just political maneuvering but as threats to the nation's foundational values.
The timing of Rijiju's remarks is significant. The monsoon session of Parliament, which concluded just days earlier, was marred by continuous disruptions—largely over the opposition's demands regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw repeated adjournments as opposition MPs pressed for a discussion on the SIR, an issue that has become a flashpoint ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Rijiju, for his part, claimed he made "constant efforts to urge and convince Congress and other opposition parties to allow discussion in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," but his appeals fell on deaf ears. With a touch of exasperation, he shared, "Mera gala bhi baith gaya dekho. Opposition ko chilla chilla ke mai anurodh karta hoon ki behas hone dijiye." (My throat got sore, I repeatedly urged opposition to allow discussion.)
Adding another layer to the controversy, Rijiju recounted conversations with some opposition MPs who, according to him, expressed a desire to engage in substantive debate but were instructed by party leadership to create a ruckus instead. "Their MPs come and tell us that we want a discussion, but orders have come from above to create a ruckus and not to participate in the debate…," he revealed. This claim, if accurate, paints a picture of internal dissent within the opposition ranks and a leadership strategy focused more on obstruction than on debate.
Rijiju also addressed longstanding opposition criticisms that the government does not reach out or engage in meaningful dialogue with its adversaries. He was quick to dismiss such claims, citing his own efforts to build bridges. "We discuss forming committees with each other. We speak outside the Parliament. They come to my home. I visit Kharge Ji’s home. I met Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders. It is wrong that the government does not reach out. We go to the Opposition with joined hands…," he said. This conciliatory note, however, was juxtaposed with his broader critique of Congress's parliamentary conduct.
The Union Minister's comments also touched on recent political setbacks for Congress and its allies. He pointed to the party's poor showing in the Maharashtra elections, claiming that Congress is now "apologizing for publishing wrong data" after pushing for a voter revision by the Election Commission. "The Congress and its allies lost badly in the Maharashtra elections. They requested that the Election Commission conduct a voter revision and that false names be removed. They demanded it. The Maharashtra data proved to be wrong, and the ones who published the data are apologising. Now, someone has given Rahul Gandhi a note on what to speak. He got lost while talking," Rijiju remarked, suggesting that Gandhi's messaging is not only ineffective but also poorly informed.
Rijiju's critique extended to the broader functioning of the Congress party within Parliament. He argued that while there are knowledgeable Congress members capable of meaningful participation, their voices are being stifled by the party's current leadership and strategy. "With folded hands, we have requested the Congress party to participate in the discussion. There are many members of Congress who can speak well and are also knowledgeable. They will face issues if I name anyone... If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak," Rijiju stated, making a pointed appeal for a more inclusive and constructive debate within Parliament.
Underlying these heated exchanges is a deeper battle over the legitimacy and integrity of India's democratic institutions. Rijiju's reference to Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India—a body Congress has accused of bias and mishandling voter rolls—reflects a growing mistrust between the ruling party and the opposition. Rijiju was unequivocal in his view that Congress must "stop attacking constitutional institutions to return to power." This sentiment echoes a broader narrative advanced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has consistently portrayed itself as the defender of national interest and constitutional order, while casting the opposition as destabilizing forces.
For its part, the Congress party and its allies argue that their demands for transparency and accountability are rooted in democratic principles, not "anti-national" motives. They contend that raising questions about electoral roll revisions and the functioning of institutions like the ECI is essential to safeguarding the health of India's democracy—especially in the run-up to critical state and national elections. The opposition maintains that disruptions in Parliament are sometimes necessary to draw attention to issues the government would otherwise ignore, and that genuine dialogue requires more than just symbolic gestures.
As the dust settles on the monsoon session and the country looks ahead to key state elections, the war of words between Rijiju and Gandhi encapsulates the larger challenges facing India's democracy: How can Parliament function as a forum for genuine debate rather than a battleground for headline-grabbing soundbites? And can the country's political leaders find common ground on matters of national interest, or will entrenched rivalries continue to fuel division and distrust?
For now, the sharp exchanges between Rijiju and Gandhi serve as a reminder that the stakes in Indian politics remain as high—and as contentious—as ever.
