Congress moves privilege notice against PM Modi over address to the nation
KC Venugopal alleged that PM Modi breached parliamentary privilege during his address by making remarks that cast aspersions on members of the Lower House
In a sharp political escalation, KC Venugopal, a Congress MP, on Tuesday (April 21) moved a privilege notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, submitting it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He alleged that the Prime Minister breached parliamentary privilege during his address to the nation last week by making remarks that cast aspersions on members of the Lower House.
In a letter addressed to Birla, Venugopal stated, “I hereby give notice of a question of privilege under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha against the Prime Minister of India for having cast aspersions on Members of Lok Sabha during his address telecast on April 18, 2026.”
Modi’s address to the nation
Following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister addressed the nation on April 18 through a televised broadcast. The Women’s Reservation Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority on April 17, as mandated under Article 368 of the Constitution.
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In his 29-minute address, described as a message to the nation, Modi criticised Opposition parties for blocking the Bill. He also referred directly to the voting pattern of Opposition members and, according to Venugopal, attributed motives to their actions.
Seeks action
Describing the issue as one of serious concern, Venugopal said that questioning elected representatives in the discharge of their duties amounts not only to a personal attack but also to an affront to the authority of Parliament and the democratic rights of citizens.
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“I urge you, the Hon’ble Speaker, to take immediate and decisive steps to uphold the sanctity of Parliament and the constitutional protections afforded to its members, so that such violations are neither ignored nor repeated,” he said in the letter.
‘59 different attacks on Congress’
Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh shared Venugopal’s letter and said the notice was prompted by what he termed the Prime Minister’s “so-called address to the nation” following the Bill’s defeat, which he attributed to unexpected Opposition unity and solidarity.
He added that an address by a sitting Prime Minister is typically reserved for moments requiring national unity and confidence-building.
“The Prime Minister’s unabashed partisan demagoguery during this address — with 59 different attacks on the Congress party — will be yet another permanent stain on his record as Prime Minister,” Ramesh said.
The government’s Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposed implementing women’s reservation and increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha to 816 seats, was defeated in the Lower House last week after failing to secure the required majority.
(With agency inputs)