Priyanka Gandhi, newly elected MP from Wayanad, gave her maiden speech in Parliament on Friday during the Constitution debate. The Congress leader slammed the BJP, saying that had it not been for the Lok Sabha election results, in which the BJP scraped through to victory, the government would have begun work on changing the Constitution.

In the debate that marked the 75th anniversary of the Constitution's adoption, the first-time parliamentarian’s address focused mainly on the Constitution and reservation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate on Saturday.

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Priyanka Gandhi said, “The Constitution gives people the strength to recognise they have the right to justice and are capable of raising their voice against the government. Our Constitution is a suraksha kavach protecting the people. However, sadly, the ruling party has made all attempts to break that shield.” She also accused the government of weakening reservation through lateral entry and privatisation.

She further said, “The truth is that they are chanting ‘Constitution’ because they realised that the people of this country will keep the Constitution alive.”

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Day one of the debate in Lok Sabha was initiated by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, who criticised the Congress. He said that the party could never tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions and had always attempted to destroy the Constitution’s basic principles. “On many occasions, the Congress has disrespected the Constitution and its spirit. It could not tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions. It always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution,” he alleged.

Without mentioning industrialist Gautam Adani by name, Gandhi made apparent jabs over the alleged ties between him and the ruling party, claiming that there was a growing perception that the government was functioning for the billionaire’s benefit. “The country is watching as 142 crore Indians are being ignored to shield one person. All businesses, money, and resources are being handed to one individual. From ports to airports to mines, public-sector companies are being given to one man alone,” she said.

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In her 32-minute speech, she highlighted the contributions made by the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, particularly recalling the Public Sector Undertakings set up by the former. She also said that despite the ruling government's attempts to erase Nehru’s name from books and speeches, his role in the independence struggle and nation-building cannot be written off.

The Congress leader alleged that the BJP would have attempted to amend the Constitution, but a reduced mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had stopped them. “Had these not been the results of the Lok Sabha elections, they would have also started working on changing the Constitution. Winning while almost losing these elections, they have realised that the discussions about changing the Constitution won’t work in this country,” she said.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP securing 240 seats, just shy of the halfway mark of 272.

The Wayanad MP also slammed PM Modi, saying he repeatedly bows before the Constitution but turns a blind eye to the cries for justice coming from Sambhal, Hathras, and Manipur. She said everyone has heard stories about a king who used to dress as a commoner and roam the markets to listen to complaints and people’s views. “But today’s ruler likes changing clothes… but he doesn’t dare go among the public or listen to criticism.”

Lawmakers from both the government and opposition sides are scheduled to speak during the debatebetlead, amid a bitter political face-off that has marred the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The INDIA bloc is moving a motion seeking the removal of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.