The position of the Leader of the Opposition carries great responsibility and has historically been held by individuals who strengthened parliamentary democracy. Unfortunately, today the Leader of the Opposition has repeatedly taken positions that undermine the nation and question the integrity of India’s armed forces, said Shiv Sena parliamentary party leader and MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, while strongly criticising Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
Dr. Shinde remarked that whenever parliamentary sessions begin, the Leader of the Opposition seems to go on vacation. “Rahul Gandhi has effectively become the Leader of Vacations rather than the Leader of the Opposition,” he said.
Speaking during the debate on the no-confidence motion moved by the INDIA alliance against the Lok Sabha Speaker, Dr. Shinde presented Shiv Sena’s firm opposition to the motion and highlighted Rahul Gandhi’s poor parliamentary participation.
Dr. Shinde pointed out that Rahul Gandhi has frequently been abroad during crucial parliamentary sessions. During the Budget Session last year, he was in Germany; the year before, he was in Vietnam. In March 2023, during the Budget Session, he was in the United Kingdom, and in 2018 he travelled to Singapore and Malaysia during the same period. “Whenever serious debates take place in Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition seems to be on vacation,” Dr. Shinde said.
He also noted that Rahul Gandhi was absent during several key legislative debates, including the Land Acquisition Bill (2015), Aadhaar Bill (2016), Triple Talaq Bill (2017), the debate on Article 370 (2019), and the Waqf Board Amendment Bill (2025).
Responding to claims made by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi that the Leader of the Opposition was interrupted 20 times during his speech, Dr. Shinde said that anyone who speaks against the nation or questions the armed forces will be firmly countered. “If anyone dares to speak against the nation or the armed forces, they will be stopped not just 20 times but 200 times,” he asserted.
Dr. Shinde further criticised what he described as the Congress party’s tendency to undermine India’s achievements, both within the country and abroad. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said that while the Indian Air Force and armed forces displayed extraordinary courage, some Congress leaders were more interested in repeating Pakistan’s claims about alleged Indian losses rather than expressing pride in the bravery of India’s soldiers.
He also pointed out that Rahul Gandhi has rarely participated meaningfully in parliamentary procedures. “The Leader of the Opposition has never raised issues during Question Hour, nor has he participated constructively during Zero Hour. In his 22-year parliamentary career, he has not introduced even a single private member’s bill,” Dr. Shinde said.
Highlighting Gandhi’s parliamentary record, Dr. Shinde said that between 2009 and 2014 Rahul Gandhi spoke only twice in the House. From 2014 to 2019 he spoke 14 times, from 2019 to 2024 eight times, and between 2024 and 2026 he has spoken 14 times. He also noted that during the 15th, 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas, Gandhi’s absence rate was over 50 percent.
“Someone who is absent from Parliament more than half the time has little moral authority to move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker,” Dr. Shinde remarked.
He further said that Rahul Gandhi had once publicly torn up legislation introduced by his own party’s government, yet today claims to be defending Parliament and democratic institutions.
Referring to India’s diplomatic achievements, Dr. Shinde said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the highest civilian honours from 26 countries and has addressed audiences in 19 nations, from Bhutan to Israel. “Never before has an Indian Prime Minister received such widespread international recognition,” he said.
Dr. Shinde also recalled that when a no-confidence motion was moved against the Lok Sabha Speaker in 1954, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had remarked that only those with a serious lack of intellectual capacity could expect such a motion to succeed.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Shinde said that the office of the Leader of the Opposition should strengthen parliamentary democracy, not weaken national unity or question the sacrifices of India’s armed forces.
