Eight Congress MPs Suspended as Rahul Gandhi Attacks Trade Deal and Memoir Block
Updated (2 articles)
Rahul Gandhi Accuses Modi Over Trade Deal and Epstein Files On February 3 2026, Rahul Gandhi told reporters inside Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “is scared,” labeling the India‑U.S. trade agreement a “sell‑out” and alleging the Prime Minister faces pressure over the Epstein files and the Adani probe [1]. In the same session, eight Congress MPs—including Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Manickam Tagore—were suspended for the remainder of the session after a voice‑vote motion moved by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju [1]. The House was adjourned until Wednesday 11 a.m., and the suspension sparked a broader confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition [1].
Speaker Denies Permission to Read Naravane Memoir Excerpt During the heated debate, Gandhi attempted to read from former Army chief Manoj Naravane’s unpublished memoir about the August 31 2020 Ladakh standoff, citing a magazine report that quoted the memoir [1][2]. Speaker Om Birla refused permission, invoking Rule 349(i) of Lok Sabha Procedure, which the government argued bars material unrelated to House business [1][2]. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju supported the denial, leading to a protest and a motion to adjourn [1][2].
Congress Charges Government of Procedural Misuse to Silence Opposition Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal claimed the government deliberately misapplied Rule 349(i) to suppress Gandhi’s citation, asserting that quoting a published magazine report on national security is permissible [2]. Communication chief Jairam Ramesh posted the excerpt on X, accusing the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister of trying to prevent the public from reading the memoir [2]. The party also highlighted the memoir’s allegation that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delayed a decision on the Ladakh clash by two hours, portraying it as evidence of leadership failure [2].
Parliamentary Leaders Convene to Re‑open Lok Sabha at 2 p.m. Speaker Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju, and Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and K.C. Venugopal met to negotiate a consensus on restoring House functioning, scheduling the Lok Sabha to reconvene at 2 p.m. [1]. Opposition leader Manoj Kumar Jha cited an RTI showing roughly 40 higher‑education student suicides in the past 1.5 years, urging stronger mental‑health measures [1]. In the Rajya Sabha, TDP MP Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha praised the February 2 tariff cut that benefits shrimp exporters and appealed for the removal of the 25 % punitive duty on Indian oil trade with Russia [1].
Sources
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1.
The Hindu: Congress MPs suspended, Rahul Gandhi’s trade‑deal attack sparks Lok Sabha turmoil: details eight Congress MPs barred, Gandhi’s accusations against Modi, blocked memoir citation, meeting to restore order, student suicide data, and tariff discussion .
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2.
The Hindu: Congress alleges government misused parliamentary rules to block Rahul Gandhi’s citation of Naravane memoir: outlines Congress claim of rule misuse, Gandhi’s attempt to quote the memoir, interpretation of Rule 349(i), Jairam Ramesh’s X post, and memoir’s allegation of delayed decision .
Timeline
Aug 31, 2020 – Former Army chief Manoj Naravane’s unpublished memoir later alleges that during the China‑India border clash at Rechin La, the Army Chief asked for clear orders, but Defence Minister Rajnath Singh relayed Prime Minister Modi’s vague instruction “do whatever you deem appropriate” after a two‑hour delay, highlighting perceived indecision at the highest level [2].
2025 – The National Task Force on student mental health, created in 2025, is criticized by opposition MPs for lacking enforcement power, as an RTI reveals about 40 higher‑education student suicides in the preceding 1.5 years, underscoring growing concerns over campus wellbeing [1].
Feb 2, 2026 – Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal accuses the Modi government of misusing Rule 349(i) to silence Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, stating the government is “afraid of the truth of its incompetence” and is blocking a citation from Naravane’s unpublished memoir about the 2020 Ladakh standoff [2].
Feb 2, 2026 – Rahul Gandhi attempts to quote a magazine excerpt of Naravane’s memoir concerning the Aug 31, 2020 incident, but Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju deny permission, prompting Gandhi to label the Prime Minister “running away from decisions and leaving them on other people’s shoulders” in a press briefing [2].
Feb 2, 2026 – Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh posts the blocked memoir excerpt on X, claiming the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister “don’t want you to read this,” suggesting coordinated suppression of the document [2].
Feb 2, 2026 – In the Rajya Sabha, TDP MP Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha welcomes the February 2, 2026 U.S. tariff reduction that benefits shrimp exports and urges the removal of a 25 % punitive duty on Indian oil trade with Russia, reflecting ongoing trade negotiations [1].
Feb 3, 2026 – Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and K.C. Venugopal meet to restore order after the Lok Sabha disruption, agreeing to reconvene the House at 2 p.m. the same day, while the session remains adjourned until Wednesday 11 a.m. for further proceedings [1].
Feb 3, 2026 – Eight Congress MPs—including Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Manickam Tagore—are suspended for the remainder of the session after a voice‑vote motion moved by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju bars them for sloganeering, illustrating the government’s strict enforcement of parliamentary decorum [1].
Feb 3, 2026 – Rahul Gandhi accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “scared,” calling the India‑U.S. trade deal a “sell‑out” and alleging that Modi is under “immense pressure” over the Epstein files and the Adani probe, intensifying political friction within Parliament [1].
Feb 3, 2026 – Gandhi’s attempt to read from Naravane’s unpublished memoir is denied by Speaker Om Birla, sparking a ruckus, a motion to adjourn, and a later reconvening of the Lok Sabha, highlighting procedural battles over freedom of speech in the legislature [1].