First phase of Budget session concludes as BJP moves Substantive Motion against Rahul Gandhi

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 14, 2026: The first phase of Parliament’s Budget session concluded on Friday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indicating that it would pursue action against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The stormy session witnessed repeated clashes between Gandhi, the Indian National Congress, and the government over multiple issues, including the memoir of former Army chief M M Naravane, the India–US trade deal, and the Epstein Files.

Gandhi was not allowed to speak during the Prime Minister’s reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. Breaking convention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not participate in the Motion of Thanks debate. Speaker Om Birla later said the decision was taken on his advice, citing concerns that protesting Congress women MPs who had approached the Prime Minister’s seat might cause harm. In response, the Congress moved a no-confidence motion against Birla, who has decided to recuse himself from duties during the period.

The session was further marked by the suspension of eight MPs for climbing onto the Secretary General’s desk and throwing paper scraps in the House.

On Friday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the BJP would proceed against Gandhi through a substantive motion moved by party MP Nishikant Dubey, alleging that Gandhi made several objectionable remarks against the government.

“We had initially planned to move a privilege motion against Gandhi for allegedly quoting from an unpublished book and for remarks made during his Budget speech, including saying ‘desh bech diya’ (the country has been sold) and comments against the Prime Minister,” Rijiju said. “However, since a substantive motion has been filed, we have decided to drop the privilege motion. We will consult the Speaker on whether the matter should be referred to the ethics committee, the privileges committee, or taken up for discussion in the House.”