Giriraj Singh slams Congress for 'damaging' Parliament in Monsoon Session
Synopsis
Union Minister Giriraj Singh went beyond routine political sparring on Thursday, accusing Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of 'flattering' Rahul Gandhi to the party's own detriment — and alleging that 80 per cent of Opposition MPs privately wanted Parliament to function, but were overruled. The remarks signal deepening frustration within the ruling bloc over a Monsoon Session that has been paralysed by the Opposition's demand for a Home Minister statement on the 20 July student protest crackdown.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on 13 August accused Congress of 'damaging' the parliamentary system through 'stubbornness' during the Monsoon Session .
The session deadlock centres on the Opposition's demand for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on police action during the 20 July student protest march.
Singh alleged Rahul Gandhi practises 'hit and run' in Parliament and lacks the courage to debate NEET and paper leaks on the floor of the House.
Singh claimed 80 per cent of Opposition members wanted productive discussions but were prevented by what he called 'a mischievous person.' Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was also criticised, with Singh alleging he was 'flattering' Gandhi at the cost of the party and Parliament.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday, 13 August accused the Congress — specifically party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi — of 'damaging' the parliamentary system through what he called their 'stubbornness' and repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Singh made the remarks while speaking to reporters in New Delhi.
Background: The Monsoon Session Deadlock
The Monsoon Session has been marked by a persistent standoff between the Centre and the Opposition. The Opposition has repeatedly demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah appear in the House and make a statement on police action against students who participated in the 20 July protest march.
On Wednesday, Shah said he was 'ready to answer everything.' However, Gandhi countered that the Opposition was not interested in the Home Minister's 'imagination or lectures,' insisting that the young generation deserved to know who gave orders to 'shoot' at them.
Singh's Remarks Against Rahul Gandhi
Speaking in sharp terms, Singh likened Gandhi to 'unruly, mischievous children in villages.' He said: 'Look at his face, his gestures and the way he speaks. As one of our MPs rightly said, he behaves like a child... In a parliamentary system, there is dignity and democratic decorum.'
Singh further alleged that Gandhi could not be compared with Amit Shah, citing Shah's role in the abrogation of Article 370, removal of Article 35A, and implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He also alleged that Gandhi was 'playing the role of urban Naxals' and accused him of 'hit and run' behaviour — entering Parliament and leaving without engaging in full debate.
The NEET Angle
Singh claimed that Gandhi 'does not have the courage to discuss NEET' in Parliament, alleging that a broader discussion on police action would inevitably extend to paper leaks in states including Jharkhand — a prospect he suggested the Opposition was keen to avoid. 'So, they didn't have courage,' he said.
Criticism of Kharge and the Congress Leadership
Turning to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh remarked: 'Kharge ji is a senior leader who has seen two or three generations, yet he keeps flattering Rahul Gandhi. He will end up sinking the Congress and damaging the parliamentary system.'
Singh also alleged that 80 per cent of Opposition members themselves wanted discussions on constituency-related matters, but were being held back by what he called 'a mischievous person,' reducing Parliament to 'a state which has never been witnessed before.'
What Comes Next
With the Monsoon Session still under way, the standoff shows no signs of resolution. The Opposition's demand for a statement from Home Minister Shah on the 20 July protest crackdown remains the central flashpoint, and further disruptions are widely expected if the impasse continues.
Point of View
CAA, and Article 35A as Shah's credentials sidesteps the Opposition's specific demand — accountability on the 20 July crackdown — which remains unanswered. Framing the walkout as cowardice on NEET is a counter-offensive, but it does not resolve the question of why a Home Minister who claims readiness to speak has not yet done so on the House floor.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Giriraj Singh criticise Congress during the Monsoon Session?
Singh accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of 'damaging' the parliamentary system by repeatedly disrupting the Monsoon Session through what he called 'stubbornness.' The disruptions stem from the Opposition's demand that Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement on police action during the 20 July student protest march.
What is the core dispute in the Parliament Monsoon Session 2024?
The Opposition has been demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah appear in the House and explain the police action taken against students who participated in a protest march on 20 July. Shah stated on Wednesday that he was 'ready to answer everything,' but Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition wanted clarity on who ordered the crackdown, not 'imagination or lectures.'
What did Giriraj Singh say about Rahul Gandhi's conduct in Parliament?
Singh likened Gandhi to 'unruly, mischievous children in villages' and accused him of 'hit and run' behaviour — entering Parliament without engaging in full debate. He also alleged Gandhi lacked the courage to discuss the NEET paper leak controversy on the floor of the House.
What did Singh allege about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge?
Singh said Kharge, despite being a senior leader who has 'seen two or three generations,' was 'flattering' Rahul Gandhi, and warned this would 'sink the Congress and damage the parliamentary system.'
What is the significance of the NEET reference in Singh's remarks?
Singh alleged that a parliamentary discussion on police action during the 20 July protest would inevitably extend to NEET and other paper leaks — including those in Opposition-ruled states such as Jharkhand — and that this prospect deterred the Congress from agreeing to a broader debate.
