Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday launched a strong attack on the ruling government, questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from Lok Sabha proceedings reflected an attempt to evade uncomfortable questions raised by the Opposition.

Her remarks followed Union Minister JP Nadda’s statement in the Rajya Sabha, where he referred to Rahul Gandhi in dismissive terms. Priyanka Gandhi responded by asserting that the Leader of the Opposition must be given the freedom to speak in Parliament without intimidation or interruption.

She criticised the tone of political discourse and suggested that the government might be anxious about potential references to sensitive issues — including alleged international reports, controversial diplomatic matters, and policy decisions that could impact farmers and national interests.

Priyanka Gandhi also referred to circulating claims linked to the Epstein files, which reportedly mention the Prime Minister in connection with an overseas visit. The government has firmly rejected these reports, calling them false and defamatory.

Meanwhile, parliamentary proceedings remained tense as disruptions continued in both Houses. In the Rajya Sabha, heated exchanges erupted after the cancellation of the Prime Minister’s scheduled Lok Sabha address earlier in the week.

JP Nadda accused Opposition parties of deliberately obstructing parliamentary work, arguing that repeated interruptions undermined democratic processes. In response, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government was stifling debate and restricting the voices of Opposition members.

As tensions escalated, Congress MPs staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha, protesting what they described as an erosion of democratic norms.

The standoff comes amid ongoing protests in the Lok Sabha, where Congress leaders claim Rahul Gandhi was prevented from completing his speech during discussions on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. He had reportedly attempted to reference content from the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane, raising concerns related to national security.