Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Friday sharpened his attack on the Congress over the disruption of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled reply to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, alleging that the protest by opposition MPs was part of a deliberate and pre-planned attempt to undermine constitutional institutions.
Speaking in New Delhi, Jakhar drew a clear parallel between the recent parliamentary disruption and the security lapse during the Prime Minister’s aborted visit to Ferozepur in January 2022, ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections. He said the similarities between the two episodes could not be ignored and reflected a recurring pattern rather than isolated political events.
According to Jakhar, the obstruction inside Parliament was not routine political dissent. He claimed that certain Congress leaders who were in positions of authority during the 2022 Punjab incident are now members of the Lok Sabha and continue to play a significant role in shaping the party’s strategy and decision-making.
“These disruptions are not spontaneous. They have a design. Some of the very individuals who presided over circumstances that endangered the Prime Minister’s security in Punjab are today sitting in Parliament and influencing Congress policy,” Jakhar said, though he did not name any specific MPs.
The Punjab BJP chief argued that preventing the Prime Minister from replying to the Motion of Thanks goes beyond political protest. He said it amounted to an attack on the dignity of the constitutional office of the Prime Minister and set a dangerous precedent for parliamentary democracy.
Jakhar maintained that when political arguments lose force, institutions become targets. He described the repeated interruptions in the House as a sign of political frustration rather than principled opposition.
While Jakhar avoided naming individuals, it is widely known that Charanjit Singh Channi, now a Congress MP from Punjab, was serving as the state’s Chief Minister when the Prime Minister’s January 5, 2022 visit to Ferozepur was cancelled after intelligence inputs warned of potential security risks due to road blockades by protesting farmers. The incident had triggered a nationwide political controversy, with the BJP accusing the then Congress-led Punjab government of serious negligence.
Emphasising accountability, Jakhar said past actions cannot be separated from present conduct when similar patterns re-emerge. “History is not irrelevant when the same actors repeat the same behaviour,” he remarked.
When asked by reporters to identify the Congress MPs he was referring to, Jakhar replied that the identities were already known, adding, “Everyone knows who these people were.”
Jakhar also voiced concern over the broader impact of repeated disruptions during key parliamentary proceedings. He said such actions erode public faith in democratic institutions and divert attention away from governance and substantive debate.
He concluded by quoting poet Muzaffar Warsi, calling for introspection in political life. “Auraon ke khayalaay ki leten hain talashi… aur apne girebaan mein jhaanka nahi jaata,” he said.
The political standoff between the ruling party and the opposition continues to stall parliamentary business, even as concerns grow over maintaining decorum and constructive engagement in the country’s highest legislative forum.