Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Indian Parliament has witnessed its fair share of drama — from abrupt resignations to heated exchanges and abuses hurled across the aisle. But during the current Budget Session, I observed something quite unexpected. It was the remarkably relaxed and almost cheerful demeanour of the Gandhi siblings. Both Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi seemed to be enjoying the spotlight and attention that followed them everywhere.
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THE GANDHI SIBLINGS IN A NEW AVATAR
Priyanka Gandhi appeared particularly composed in her responses. She knew that the moment she stepped out of her car, at least 50 cameras and microphones would surround her — and that she would have to respond, no matter the question.
Most media personnel, including myself, usually gather at Makar Dwar. I spend a significant part of my day there because it is at this entrance that you see opposition and government leaders chatting amicably, putting their arms around each other’s shoulders, and sometimes even sharing jokes and food. It is also the gate through which the Gandhi siblings enter Parliament.
Let me tell you what I witnessed.
The last week of the session saw a full-blown confrontation between the government and the opposition, with Rahul Gandhi at the centre of it. When he was given the opportunity to speak, he referred to former Army Chief M. M. Naravane’s book — and that opened a Pandora’s box.
The Speaker ruled that his remarks were against parliamentary rules. Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh both stood up to cite procedural rules, demanding that Rahul Gandhi authenticate what he had quoted on the floor of the House.
Amid loud protests and chaos, the Lok Sabha was adjourned.
I was standing at Makar Dwar when Rahul Gandhi walked out. He did not appear agitated. On the contrary, he seemed satisfied — almost as if he believed he had made his point effectively.
As is often the case, he was surrounded by colleagues such as K. C. Venugopal, Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood. He told the media that he had all the proof the government was demanding and would place it on record if necessary.
He was remarkably relaxed — one hand casually in his pocket — as he reiterated that he was merely asking the government to answer his questions.
Soon after, Priyanka Gandhi stepped out. As expected, dozens of cameras were thrust towards her. She said her brother had spoken the truth and that the government was scared — which, in her view, was why the House had been adjourned.
RAHUL GANDHI’S TRYST WITH MAKAR DWAR
This pattern continued through the final week of the Budget Session. The Gandhi siblings would exit the Lok Sabha appearing confident and self-assured.
They usually arrived between 11:15 am and 11:45 am — sometimes together, sometimes separately. But one constant remained: the cluster of cameras waiting for them.
Rahul Gandhi, who in earlier sessions would occasionally appear irritated, seemed transformed. He was confident, smiling frequently, and offering sharp one-line responses to questions thrown at him.
Priyanka Gandhi, too, responded with a smile, even taking a swipe at the Prime Minister’s much-publicised “56-inch chest” remark.
In my view, Rahul Gandhi has understood the political significance of Makar Dwar. Since their suspension, eight MPs have been protesting on its steps. There are 11 steps leading to the new Parliament building, and these MPs have been sitting there with black placards and banners in their hands.
Almost unfailingly, Rahul Gandhi would step out of his car around 11:30 am, speak briefly to reporters, and then walk over to the suspended MPs. For five consecutive days, he spent at least five minutes with them.
One day, the MPs unveiled a new poster featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. As Rahul Gandhi walked past me, I pointed out the new poster.
He turned around with a smile and said, “It’s nice, don’t you think?” He then walked towards the protesting MPs and remarked that it was indeed a new poster.
When we pressed him further, he walked back towards the media and said this represented the “reality” of the US–India trade deal. According to him, the government was acting out of fear. He even asked suspended MP Manickam Tagore to hold up the poster for the cameras.
After speaking at length, still smiling, he made his way through Makar Dwar and entered the Parliament building.
OPPOSITION HUDDLE VS GOVT MOVE
When reports emerged that the government was considering a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi, I hurried through the corridors to gather details.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was seen visiting Amit Shah’s office and later meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was engaged in discussions with senior leader Arjun Ram Meghwal.
After several internal deliberations, Rijiju stepped out at Makar Dwar and told the media that Rahul Gandhi needed to authenticate his references to the so-called Epstein files, in which he had mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
When I asked if a deadline had been set, Rijiju replied that proof should be submitted as soon as possible. The government, meanwhile, decided to move a privilege motion.
A couple of days earlier, as Nishikant Dubey was walking up the steps at Makar Dwar in the evening, I had asked him what the government was considering. He said they were exploring the possibility of a substantive motion that would require Rahul Gandhi to authenticate his allegations with documentary evidence.
OPPOSITION’S MORNING BRAINSTORMING
Before the privilege motion surfaced, it was the opposition that appeared aggressive. There were discussions about bringing a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Congress, and the Samajwadi Party all have offices in the old Parliament building. TMC typically holds strategy meetings around 11:30 am.
On the day the Congress floated the idea of a no-confidence motion, at around 11:25 am, I saw TMC leaders — Kalyan Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra — rushing from Makar Dwar into the old building. Sensing action, I followed them to the TMC office.
Inside, I learned that the party was not in favour of a no-confidence motion. Senior leaders told me elections were approaching, and they wanted an opportunity to speak during the Budget discussion instead of escalating matters.
A TMC leader suggested that Congress write to the Speaker and allow three days for opposition parties to speak on the Budget.
I then visited the Samajwadi Party office. A few MPs told me that party chief Akhilesh Yadav was scheduled to speak on the Budget and that this had been conveyed to Congress. In fact, strategy calls between Congress, TMC and Samajwadi Party leaders reportedly continued until 2 am.
Eventually, Congress decided to submit a resolution against the Speaker.
Inside Parliament, I saw Jairam Ramesh conferring with Congress leaders, while at the other end of the hall, Akhilesh Yadav was seen in conversation with Kiren Rijiju.
When Congress submitted the resolution to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, I learned of an unusual error: the document mentioned 2025 instead of 2026. The Secretariat informed the Speaker, and Om Birla instructed officials to have it corrected.
Rijiju’s office was abuzz once the rectified resolution was resubmitted. The BJP leadership then decided that, in addition to the substantive motion already moved by Nishikant Dubey, a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi would also be pursued.
SUSPENDED MPs AND THE SELFIE POINT
While waiting daily at Makar Dwar, I noticed another interesting development. The suspended MPs had become something of a selfie attraction.
Celebrity MP Shashi Tharoor, who had injured himself, would step out of his car, sit in a wheelchair, and make his way to the protesting MPs. On the third day of their suspension, he posed for photographs and videos with them.
Afterwards, as his attendant wheeled him towards the ramp where I was standing, I asked why he had come for pictures. He smiled and replied, “Of course I come and meet them — they are the stars for us”.
Similarly, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal arrived one afternoon carrying a box of jaggery sweets. She offered them to the suspended MPs and encouraged them to “keep it up.”
On the second day after the suspension, Congress MPs even ordered coffee from Starbucks for those seated on the steps. The cups, I noticed, had “INC” written on them.
Makar Dwar, during this Budget Session, was not just an entrance to Parliament. It had become a political stage — one where symbolism, strategy, solidarity and spectacle played out in full public view, and where, as a reporter, I found myself witnessing history unfold step by step.
– Ends
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
