Budget Session: Opposition planned to target treasury benches, says Giriraj Singh; Priyanka Gandhi calls claim ‘lie’

Opposition MPs protest in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on Thursday. Pic/PTI

Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday alleged that Opposition members had a pre-planned strategy to attack members of the treasury benches in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

The Lower House witnessed dramatic scenes as women Members of Parliament (MPs) from Opposition parties marched towards the treasury benches holding banners ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. The prime minister was not present, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member PP Chaudhary was speaking when opposition MPs trooped into the Well of the House, protesting against the India-US trade deal and former Army chief M M Naravane's unpublished book.

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Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Singh said, "As soon as it struck 5 o'clock, they came in. For the first time, it was seen that members of the opposition were standing in front of the treasury benches. So that was indeed the method to attack, nothing else. They kept it ready in advance." He also accused the opposition of holding the Lok Sabha "hostage" for four days.

Reacting to the allegations, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday accused the government of "hiding behind" Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and called claims of a plot to harm the prime minister an "absolute lie."

PM Modi skipped speech after Speaker warned of 'unexpected' act by Opposition

Her remarks came after Speaker Birla said he had advised Modi not to attend the House following information that some Congress MPs might carry out an "unexpected act" near the prime minister's seat. Lashing out at opposition members, Birla described their conduct in his office on Wednesday as inappropriate, calling it "like a black spot."

Priyanka Gandhi told reporters, "It is an absolute lie. There is no question of anybody raising hands on the prime minister, trying to hurt him or any such thing. The government is making the speaker ‘say all this' because the prime minister did not have the guts to come to the House."

She urged the media to ask the prime minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and the government why the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was not allowed to speak.

(With PTI inputs)