"Totally baseless": BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi dismisses Rahul Gandhi's claims on not being allowed to speak in Parliament
Jul 21, 2025
New Delhi [India], July 21 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP Aparajita Sarangi on Monday dismissed Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's claim of not being allowed to speak in the Parliament as "totally baseless".
Earlier on the first day of the monsoon session today Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of not allowing him to speak in the Lok Sabha, saying that union ministers were allowed to speak but he was not permitted.
Highlighting that she was present in the Lok Sabha, Sarangi said that Rahul Gandhi's claims are totally "baseless."
"This is totally baseless. Even I was sitting in the House. The government has made its stand clear. Even the Defence Minister has said that the government is ready for discussion on Operation Sindoor, what is the problem?", the BJP MP said.
Sarangi noted that Rahul Gandhi will be allowed to speak when the structured discussion takes place.
"When a structured discussion is initiated, LoP Rahul Gandhi will also be given the opportunity to speak. It is a matter of remaining relevant for him", she said.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also stated that the accusations of Rahul Gandhi against the government are not correct and reaffirmed their commitment regarding discussions on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.
"The accusations Rahul Gandhi is making are not correct. The government is ready to discuss the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor.... When it is discussed, he will be given the right to speak", he told ANI.
Congress and other parties of INDIA bloc have identified eight key issues to be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament. These include Pahalgam terror attack and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition members had given adjournment notices which were not accepted.
"The question is - the Defence Minister is allowed to speak in the House, but Opposition members, including me, who is the LoP, are not allowed to speak...This is a new approach...The convention states that if people from the government side can speak, then we should also be given space to speak," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
