Row Over PM’s Address: Venugopal Flags Breach of Parliamentary Privileges

A privilege motion has been moved against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his televised address to the nation on April 18. The motion was submitted by senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP K. C. Venugopal, who alleged that the remarks made during the speech undermined parliamentary privileges. In a detailed notice submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker on Tuesday, Venugopal—who also serves as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee—stated that the Prime Minister’s address went against established parliamentary conventions. The speech was delivered after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 failed to secure the required majority in the House. Venugopal आरोपed that the Prime Minister made direct remarks on the voting behaviour of opposition members and questioned their intentions. He described this as a “serious breach of privilege” and an act that amounted to undermining the dignity of the House. The notice further emphasized that an address to the nation is meant for matters of national importance and should not be used for political criticism. According to Venugopal, it was inappropriate for a Prime Minister—whose government failed to secure a majority in Parliament—to criticise the opposition in such a manner, terming it a “blatant misuse of power.” He also clarified that the opposition had opposed the bill on April 16 and 17 due to certain provisions, particularly those related to delimitation. Venugopal pointed out that the opposition had earlier supported the women’s reservation legislation (106th Amendment Act, 2023). The Congress leader urged the Speaker to take immediate cognisance of the matter and refer it to the Committee of Privileges for a detailed inquiry. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh backed the move, stating that the Prime Minister’s speech was marked by partisan politics rather than promoting national unity. He added that the remarks made after the bill’s defeat would remain a “permanent blemish” on the Prime Minister’s record.