"Absolute Lie": Priyanka Gandhi Slams Speaker’s "PM Attack" Plot Claim

The sanctity of the Indian Parliament was called into question today as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made an unprecedented public disclosure: he had explicitly advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to skip his scheduled address yesterday (Feb 4). Birla revealed he acted on "credible and concrete intelligence" suggesting that a group of Congress MPs intended to physically confront the Prime Minister inside the House, allegedly using women members as a tactical "security shield" to breach the cordon around the Treasury benches.

This revelation has ignited a firestorm of "black spot" accusations against the Opposition. While the Speaker expressed deep "anguish" over the planned disruption, the Congress leadership has moved swiftly to brand the claim an "absolute lie." The political fallout has effectively stalled the Budget Session, as the narrative shifts from policy debates to a high-stakes standoff over parliamentary security and personal safety.

The Context (How We Got Here)

• The Trigger: On February 4, the Lok Sabha was abruptly adjourned at 5:00 PM—the exact time the PM was slated to reply to the Motion of Thanks—after reports of "unexpected" conduct by Opposition members.
• The Background: Tensions have been at a breaking point for 48 hours following the suspension of eight Opposition MPs and a fierce row over Rahul Gandhi's attempt to cite the unpublished "Naravane Memoir" regarding the 2020 China border crisis.
• The Escalation: Sources identified six Congress women MPs—including Varsha Gaikwad and Geniben Thakor—who reportedly moved toward the PM's chair yesterday, an act the government now frames as a coordinated attempt to "manufacture a mishap."

The Key Players (Who & So What)

Om Birla (Lok Sabha Speaker): The Whistleblower. By taking the rare step of thanking the PM for "staying away," Birla has positioned the Chair as a defensive barrier against what he terms a "violation of democratic traditions."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Congress General Secretary): The Rebutter. She has countered that the PM is "hiding behind the Speaker" because he lacks the "moral courage" to answer questions on national security and the U.S. Trade Deal.

Varsha Gaikwad (Congress MP): The Accused. Specifically named in government-aligned reports as a lead agitator, she maintains her actions were a legitimate protest against the "silencing" of the Leader of the Opposition.

The BIGSTORY Reframe (Security as Shield)

The mainstream media is fixated on the "assassination-lite" rhetoric of a physical confrontation, but the real story is the Strategic Avoidance Doctrine. By elevating a protest to a "security threat," the government has successfully neutralized a potentially damaging parliamentary speech.

The PM was facing intense pressure to respond to "uncomfortable facts" from General Naravane’s memoir and the specifics of the U.S. energy pivot. By skipping the Lok Sabha and choosing to speak in the more controlled environment of the Rajya Sabha today, the PM has avoided a direct face-off with Rahul Gandhi. The "plot" narrative serves a dual purpose: it paints the Congress as "violent hooligans" while providing the PM with an "honorable exit" from a hostile debate.

The Implications (Why This Matters)

• Permanent Trust Deficit: The relationship between the Speaker and the Opposition is now fundamentally broken, likely leading to a "washout" of the remaining Budget Session.
• Weaponization of Security: This incident sets a precedent where any aggressive protest in the Well can be labeled a "security risk," potentially leading to more preemptive suspensions.
• The "Dalit vs. State" Narrative: By naming MPs like Varsha Gaikwad, the Congress is already framing the government's response as an attack on "strong Dalit women," broadening the conflict into a social justice battle.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If the Prime Minister of India is deemed "unsafe" to speak inside the most secure building in the country, has the floor of the House ceased to be a space for debate and become a literal battlefield?

FAQs

Why did PM Modi skip his Lok Sabha speech on February 4? Speaker Om Birla advised the PM not to attend after receiving "concrete information" that Congress MPs planned to physically confront him near his seat.

Who were the Congress MPs involved in the alleged Parliament plot? Sources have named six women MPs, including Varsha Gaikwad, R. Sudha, Jyotimani, Geniben Thakor, K. Kavya, and Shobha Bachhav, for approaching the PM's chair.

What was the 'unexpected act' mentioned by Om Birla? The Speaker alleged that MPs intended to surround the Prime Minister and create an "unpleasant incident" under the cover of women members of the House.

Is there any evidence of a physical attack plan against the PM? While the Speaker cited "credible intelligence," the Congress has dismissed the claim as a "lie" and "nonsense" intended to cover the PM's refusal to face the House.

What rule did the Speaker use to adjourn the House? The Speaker acted under his discretionary powers to maintain order, later citing the breach of dignity and "black spot" conduct by members in his office.

Sources

News Coverage

• The Economic Times: Physical attack on Narendra Modi? Om Birla asked PM to skip Lok Sabha speech
• India Today: 6 Congress women MPs who reached near PM Modi's seat: Parliament Session Live

Context & Analysis

• Times of India: 'PM hiding behind Speaker': Opposition's sharp retort to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's remark
• National Herald: PM hiding behind Speaker, claim of plan to hurt him is a 'lie': Priyanka Gandhi