New Delhi: Congress leader KC Venugopal has submitted a notice of question of privilege against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that remarks made during a televised national address “cast aspersions” on Members of Parliament.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla, under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, Venugopal cited the prime minister’s speech broadcast on April 18, 2026. The address followed the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha a day earlier, after it failed to secure the two-thirds majority required under Article 368 of the Constitution of India.
According to the letter, Modi, in his 29-minute address to the nation, criticised Opposition parties for blocking the bill and made references to their voting pattern while attributing motives to their actions. The communication described the address as “unprecedented,” alleging it was an inappropriate use of a national platform to criticise parliamentary conduct.
The notice further stated that Opposition members had, on April 16 and 17, expressed unanimous support for women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha, citing the earlier passage of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, by both Houses of Parliament. It argued that concerns raised during debates on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, related to proposed changes to Article 82, particularly regarding delimitation safeguards.
Venugopal contended that Opposition members opposed the bill while maintaining support for women’s reservation, asserting that their objections were rooted in constitutional concerns. The notice characterised the bill as one that sought to affect constitutional protections linked to delimitation.
The document stated that attributing motives or casting reflections on Members of Parliament over their speeches or voting amounts to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House. It further argued that such remarks undermine the independence and integrity of elected representatives.
Citing parliamentary conventions and protections under Article 105 of the Constitution of India, the notice maintained that no individual, including Modi, should question the conduct or voting decisions of Members within the House.
The notice urged the speaker to take cognisance of what it described as a “grave and deliberate breach of privilege” and refer the matter to the Committee on Privileges of the Lok Sabha for detailed inquiry and initiation of proceedings.
It added that the issue concerns the authority of Parliament and the constitutional rights of its members, calling for immediate action to uphold parliamentary sanctity and ensure such instances are not repeated.
