In her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spearheaded the opposition’s response to the government’s policies, addressing pressing issues such as the Unnao rape case and the recent violence in Sambhal. Her speech, delivered on the first day of a significant parliamentary debate, was met with a mix of cheers and jeers from the assembly.
Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks came as a direct rebuttal to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s opening statements. She shared poignant stories from the families affected by the Sambhal violence, particularly focusing on two young boys, Adnan and Uzair, who lost their father, a tailor, to police gunfire.
“A few days ago, some people from the bereaved families of Sambhal came to meet us… there were two children among them – Adnan and Uzair. One was my son’s age (Raihan Vadra is 24) and the other was around 17. Their father was a tailor who had one dream… to see his sons educated,” she recounted.
Gandhi continued, “The police shot their father dead… Adnan told me he would grow up to be a doctor and realise his father’s dream… a dream instilled in him by the Constitution of India.”
Importance of the Constitution in Empowering Citizens
In her speech, she emphasized the importance of the Constitution in empowering citizens to seek justice and voice their concerns against the government. “Our Independence struggle was a unique one in the world as it was based on truth, non-violence,” she stated.
Furthermore, she criticized the government’s attempts to undermine reservation policies through lateral entry and privatization, asserting that such actions threaten the foundational principles of equality and justice enshrined in the Constitution.
Priyanka Gandhi’s address marks a significant moment in her political career, as she positions herself as a key figure in the opposition’s fight for justice and accountability.
