While Congress leaders applauded Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s debut speech in Parliament as a resounding success, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut strongly criticized her performance, claiming it lacked both substance and thoughtful argument. In an exclusive interview with Aaj Tak, Ranaut accused Gandhi of making vague allegations instead of engaging in a meaningful discussion about the issues facing the nation during her participation in the debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha.
Ranaut asserted that anyone could sit and make accusations, but Gandhi failed to back her claims with facts. She pointed out the difference between Gandhi’s speech and the one delivered by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which she described as being deeply rooted in data and facts. Ranaut emphasized that Gandhi's address could not be considered a legitimate debate because, in her view, there were no substantial arguments or counterpoints presented. "So to say there was a debate in Parliament is incorrect. There was no debate," she remarked, suggesting that Gandhi’s address was more of a narrative than a serious political discourse.
Known for her outspoken nature, Ranaut did not miss an opportunity to take a jab at the Gandhi family, particularly after Rahul Gandhi praised his sister’s performance. She sarcastically noted, "Both of them have the same standard. Before them, their mother followed the same standard. For them, the benchmark might be ‘we spoke better than our mother,’ who could barely manage to string together a sentence in Hindi." This pointed comment reflected Ranaut's ongoing criticism of the Gandhi family's leadership and political approach, which she viewed as more self-congratulatory than substantive.
Ranaut also drew an unflattering comparison between the Congress party's political practices and the nepotism often attributed to the Hindi film industry. In her view, the Gandhi family was engaged in a form of self-congratulation, where they were essentially "handing out awards to each other in their own household," rather than engaging in the kind of grassroots political work that could bring about real change.
One of the key moments of Priyanka Gandhi’s speech was her discussion of the communal violence that occurred in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal. She had met with the victims' families and strongly criticized the BJP government, alleging that the administration was fostering division and committing atrocities. Gandhi's remarks centered on what she perceived as an ongoing assault on the country's constitutional values and the marginalized sections of society. However, Ranaut dismissed these accusations as hypocritical and misplaced. She reminded the audience of Congress’s own historical record, particularly its involvement in the imposition of Emergency and the frequent use of President’s Rule, which she argued contradicted Gandhi’s current position.
Ranaut also accused Gandhi of fearmongering, suggesting that she was trying to manipulate the public by creating a false narrative of fear in the country. "She has nothing to say, so she’s instigating people without cause by claiming there’s an ‘atmosphere of fear’ in the country," Ranaut said. According to Ranaut, Gandhi’s rhetoric was an attempt to stir unnecessary panic rather than providing real solutions to the issues at hand.
On the substance of Priyanka Gandhi’s speech, Ranaut was firm in her dismissal, claiming that it lacked depth and failed to address the actual problems facing the nation. "She is weak in her ideas. The arguments lack sense," Ranaut remarked. She further pointed out that Gandhi was unable to present any convincing counter-arguments to Rajnath Singh or any of the other BJP leaders who had spoken during the debate. According to Ranaut, the Congress party had failed to engage in any meaningful discourse that could have led to a productive debate on the future of the Constitution.
Priyanka Gandhi, in her maiden speech, criticized the BJP-led government for attempting to undermine the Constitution, which she called the "suraksha kavach" (the protective armor) of the nation. She argued that the Constitution is the cornerstone of India’s democratic values and that any efforts to erode it were harmful to the nation's unity. Furthermore, she pointed to the government’s alleged favoritism toward industrialist Gautam Adani, which has been a longstanding issue for the Congress, with accusations that the BJP was protecting the businessman and his interests at the cost of public welfare.
While Priyanka Gandhi's speech was widely lauded by Congress supporters, Ranaut and other BJP leaders maintained that it failed to present the kind of coherent arguments needed to spark a real political debate. The contrast between the two parties’ responses to the speech underlines the political divide that continues to shape India’s national discourse. The Congress continues to accuse the BJP of undermining democratic values, while the BJP counters that the Congress is engaged in baseless rhetoric designed to incite division and unrest.
Ranaut’s comments reflect a broader political strategy within the BJP to discredit Congress leaders, particularly the Gandhi family, by questioning their credibility and relevance. For her part, Priyanka Gandhi continues to position herself as a defender of the Constitution, working to rally the opposition against what she sees as the authoritarian tendencies of the current government. Despite the sharp criticism from Ranaut and other BJP leaders, Gandhi's speech is seen by many as part of a growing attempt by the Congress to present itself as a viable alternative to the ruling BJP.
