Priyanka Gandhi's Debut Parliament Speech To Raise Reservation Issue, Attack Centre On Caste Census: Sources

Priyanka Gandhi’s debut speech in Parliament will set the tone for Congress’ broader narrative against the BJP for the Consitution debate in the ongoing session.

Priyanka Gandhi Parliament Speech: Congress MP takes part in a protest march of opposition MPs over Adani issue during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

Source : PTI

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the newly elected Member of Parliament from Wayanad, is set to deliver her first address in Parliament today during a key debate on the Constitution. Sources have confirmed that she will lead the discussion on behalf of the Congress party. She is likely to accuse the BJP of "eroding democratic values" through its governance style and poll strategies.  

Party insiders have told ABP News, that Priyanka Gandhi’s speech will focus on crucial issues such as reservations, the census, and the demand for a caste-based census.

She is expected to launch a sharp attack on the BJP-led government's policies, particularly its approach to privatisation and lateral entry, which are weakening the reservation system.

Priyanka Gandhi is also likely to question the government’s reluctance to conduct a caste census, asserting that such data is vital for understanding the true socio-economic condition of India’s population.

लोकसभा में आज पहली बार बोलेंगी प्रियंका गांधी, संविधान पर बहस में करेंगी विपक्षी गुट से शुरुआत#PriyankaGandhi #Congress #Loksabha https://t.co/GiRSKsyKhy

— ABP News (@ABPNews) December 13, 2024

In her debut Parliament speech, she is likely to accuse the ruling party of diverting attention from pressing issues. Priyanka Gandhi is most likely to highlight the BJP’s election rhetoric which often shifts focus to topics, like 'wealth distribution to minorities' and 'selling off mangalsutras' to provide minority communities more, instead of addressing the core challenges.

Palriament's Two-Day Debate On The Constitution

The Lok Sabha will begin a two-day debate today to commemorate the 75th year of the adoption of the Indian Constitution.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on Saturday.  

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will initiate the discussion in the Lok Sabha, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to lead a similar debate in the Rajya Sabha.  

Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Modi held a strategy meeting attended by Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and BJP President J P Nadda. Separately, Shah convened a meeting with senior BJP ministers, including Nadda, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, at his office in Parliament.  

The opposition Congress also held its strategy meeting at the party headquarters. It was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, and senior leaders K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh to plan their approach for the debate and the upcoming parliamentary sessions.