“Fabricated”: Congress Writes to Speaker On S Phangnon Konyak’s Allegations Against Rahul Gandhi
The Congress party has dismissed allegations made by BJP Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak, accusing Rahul Gandhi of misbehaviour, as baseless and politically motivated. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress MP Hibi Eden stated that the claims were “entirely fabricated, devoid of facts, and a malicious attempt to tarnish the integrity” of the Leader of the Opposition.
Eden, who was present during the alleged incident, firmly denied any misconduct, saying, “At no point did Shri Rahul Gandhi come into proximity with the person making the allegations.” He asserted that Gandhi has always respected the rights of women and Scheduled Tribes, describing the accusations as an attempt to malign his character. Eden urged the Speaker to dismiss the claims and take action against what he termed a “blatant lie” aimed at defaming Gandhi.
The allegations were made by Phangnon Konyak, a BJP MP from Nagaland, who accused Gandhi of inappropriate behaviour during a protest on Parliament premises. According to her letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the incident occurred near the Makar Dwaar staircase while she was participating in a peaceful demonstration against Congress’s alleged disrespect towards BR Ambedkar. Konyak alleged that Gandhi approached her in an aggressive manner, coming uncomfortably close, which she described as intimidating and inappropriate for a lady MP. She further stated, “As a member of the Scheduled Tribe community from Nagaland, I seek protection from such behaviour.”
Konyak’s allegations have escalated tensions between the BJP and Congress, already at odds over various issues in the winter session of Parliament. Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted as BJP MPs demanded action against Gandhi, citing Konyak’s claims. The protests followed an earlier confrontation where two BJP MPs reportedly sustained injuries during a demonstration on Parliament premises over an alleged insult to BR Ambedkar.
Congress leaders have united in defending Gandhi, with Eden describing the allegations as “atrocious and a blatant lie.” He reiterated that no such incident took place and criticised the BJP for what he called a politically motivated attempt to discredit Gandhi. The party has emphasised its belief that the accusations are part of a broader campaign to undermine the opposition.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it has sparked a wider discussion about the conduct of public representatives and the use of allegations for political purposes. While Konyak has sought intervention from the Rajya Sabha Chairman for her protection, the Congress has called for the allegations to be dismissed outright.
