Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his reference to the Emergency, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi claimed it was a tactic to divert attention from the ongoing assault on the Constitution. The first session of Parliament saw intense exchanges between the government and the opposition over the post of Deputy Speaker and the NEET issue, leading Sonia Gandhi to remark that it showcased PM Modi's preference for confrontation despite his advocacy for consensus.
In an editorial for The Hindu, Sonia Gandhi criticized PM Modi for not acknowledging the changed political landscape following the Lok Sabha elections, where the NDA returned to power with a weaker mandate. She highlighted the inconsistency between his rhetoric and actions, noting, "The Prime Minister continues as if nothing has changed. He preaches the value of consensus but continues to value confrontation."
Sonia Gandhi expressed disappointment with the initial proceedings of the 18th Lok Sabha, stating, "The first few days of the 18th Lok Sabha have sadly been far from encouraging. Any hope that we might see a changed attitude has been dashed." She emphasized that, according to convention, the post of Deputy Speaker should have been given to the opposition. However, this reasonable request was denied by a regime that had left the position vacant in the 17th Lok Sabha after AIADMK's M Thambi Durai, a BJP ally then, served in the role during the first term of the NDA government.
Regarding the Emergency, Sonia Gandhi criticized the BJP's strategy of bringing it up to attack the Congress. She found it "astonishing" that even the Speaker mentioned it, despite the expectation of impartiality from such a position. She noted, "In March 1977, the people of our country gave a categorical verdict on the Emergency, which was accepted unhesitatingly and unequivocally. Less than three years later, the party humbled in March 1977 was returned to power with a majority never achieved by Modi and his party."
Gandhi also addressed the NEET paper leak scandal, condemning PM Modi for his silence on the issue, which severely impacted the lives of countless students. She pointed out, "The Prime Minister who does his 'Pariksha pe Charcha' has been conspicuously silent on the leaks that have devastated so many families across the country." She criticized the degradation of educational institutions' professionalism under the current administration.
On the ethnic violence in Manipur, Sonia Gandhi attacked the Prime Minister for his lack of response and presence in the strife-torn state since clashes broke out in May 2023 between the Kuki and Meitei communities, resulting in numerous deaths and displacements. She stated, "Social harmony in this most sensitive state has been shattered. Yet, the Prime Minister has not found the time or inclination to visit the state or meet with its political leaders."
Reacting to Sonia Gandhi's editorial, BJP leader and former Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused her of arrogance and suggested reflecting on her family's past before criticizing PM Modi. Conversely, Sonia Gandhi received support from her INDIA bloc allies, RJD and Shiv Sena (UBT). RJD MP Manoj Jha remarked that she had shown the government a mirror, asserting, "Even today there is an Emergency in the country." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut mocked the Prime Minister, calling the Lok Sabha result Modi's "personal defeat" and suggesting that his continued hold on power was due to "jugaad" rather than genuine electoral success.
