Rahul Gandhi applauds Priyanka Gandhi's maiden speech in Lok Sabha, calls it better than his own

Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi praised Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s maiden speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday, calling it “better than my maiden speech.” Priyanka, elected from Wayanad, delivered her first address during a discussion marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. The debate focused on the role of the Constitution in ensuring justice, unity, and freedom of expression.

In her speech, Priyanka Gandhi accused the Modi-led government of attempting to undermine the Constitution, which she referred to as a "Suraksha kavach" (protective shield). She described the Constitution as a safeguard for justice and unity and stressed that it provides the foundation for the right to express and equality before the law. Priyanka stated that over the past decade, the government has taken measures that weaken this protective shield, undermining the Constitution’s core principles.

Priyanka’s speech also addressed incidents of violence in Sambhal and Manipur, criticizing the government’s response. She argued that Prime Minister Modi had been unmoved by these events, which she said highlighted the government’s failure to respond effectively to issues of violence and lawlessness. Priyanka stressed that the people of these regions were facing severe difficulties that had not been adequately addressed by the administration.

Additionally, Priyanka Gandhi raised concerns about the government's preferential treatment toward industrialist Gautam Adani. She accused the government of providing undue favor to Adani, which, she argued, came at the cost of the general population. Priyanka asserted that policies benefiting select industrialists have a detrimental impact on the wider society, diverting resources from public welfare to corporate interests.

Priyanka also called for the implementation of a caste census, an issue that has been the subject of significant debate. She criticized the government for not conducting the census, arguing that it was essential for understanding the socio-economic status of various communities and addressing disparities. Priyanka claimed that the government had trivialized the issue, which is critical for ensuring equitable development across all sections of society.

The Congress MP further criticized the government’s stance on reservation, lateral entry into government services, and privatization. Priyanka argued that lateral entry into government positions and privatization of public services were efforts to weaken the reservation system, which she said was essential for promoting social justice. She expressed concern that these policies could erode protections for marginalized communities and undermine the social fabric of the nation.

Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge all expressed strong support for Priyanka’s speech. Kharge praised the speech as an effective presentation of facts, highlighting the government’s failure to protect the Constitution and its attempts to weaken democratic principles. The speech emphasized the Congress party's commitment to upholding the Constitution, ensuring social justice, and holding the government accountable for its policies and actions over the past decade.