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BJP MP Nishikant Dubey targets Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech (Img: Sansad TV)
New Delhi: A sharp political exchange unfolded in the Lok Sabha during discussions ahead of voting on the Women’s Reservation Bill, with leaders from both the ruling and opposition benches trading strong remarks.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over the absence of a caste census and accused the Centre of avoiding the issue. His remarks triggered a strong response from the treasury benches, intensifying the debate in the House.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey responded sharply to Gandhi’s speech, criticising the Congress party’s record on caste-based data collection.
Dubey questioned why the Congress had not taken concrete steps to conduct a caste census during its time in power. He accused the party of raising the issue now for political reasons rather than policy intent.
During his response, Dubey made a sarcastic remark on Gandhi’s speech, saying his Lok Sabha speech looked like a “magic show.” Dubey questioned whether Gandhi was trying to perform “magic or a dance” during his address, adding that the speech lacked seriousness expected in the House.
The BJP leader also referred to past policy positions of the Congress, alleging inconsistencies in its stance on reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The exchange highlighted broader disagreements between the government and opposition over key issues, including caste census, reservation policies, and the scope of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
While the opposition has been pressing for greater clarity on representation for marginalised communities, the ruling side has defended its approach and questioned the opposition’s past actions.
The debate comes at a crucial time as Parliament prepares to vote on the Women’s Reservation Bill and related legislative proposals. The discussions have seen repeated clashes between leaders, reflecting deep political divisions over the reforms.
With both sides firm on their positions, the developments underline the contentious nature of the ongoing parliamentary session and the significance of the issues under consideration.
