In her debut speech in Parliament, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and emphasized that fear cannot govern India. Speaking during a debate on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, Priyanka Gandhi described the Constitution as a protective shield for justice, unity, and freedom of expression, while accusing the government of undermining it over the past decade.
Priyanka Gandhi, representing Wayanad in Kerala, alleged that the BJP-led government was attempting to weaken key policies like reservation through lateral entry and privatization. She also expressed concern that, had the Lok Sabha elections turned out differently, the government would have pushed forward with plans to alter the Constitution.
“The truth is they are now chanting ‘Constitution’ because they have realized that the people of this country will continue to uphold it,” said Priyanka Gandhi in her speech.
The Congress leader also called for the implementation of a caste census, stating that it was the “need of the hour.” She criticized the government for trivializing the issue and instead focusing on irrelevant topics, such as the mention of mangalsutras during the Lok Sabha elections. “The caste census is essential to understand the condition of everyone in the country and to formulate appropriate policies,” she added.
Priyanka Gandhi also took a dig at the government for its frequent criticism of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She questioned why the ruling party continually references Nehru’s legacy without addressing current challenges.
She asked, “What are they doing themselves?” and emphasized that Nehru contributed to nation-building by establishing key institutions like HAL, BHEL, SAIL, and IITs, and his contributions will never be erased.
Priyanka Gandhi won the Congress MP seat for Wayanad in a by-election after her brother Rahul Gandhi decided to vacate the seat.
She secured a victory with a margin of over four lakh votes.