Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks to reporters outside Parliament
After Rahul Gandhi's uncharacteristic outburst against Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting that "only one man's voice counts for anything, " the BJP has reacted equally sharply, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley suggesting that the Congress is battling attempts at "a palace coup" and "trouble in their own home." (
Only One Man's Voice Seems to Count For Anything: Rahul Gandhi )
Mr Jaitley's caustic reference was to reports that the Congress, disillusioned by Mr Gandhi's leadership ,wants his younger sister Priyanka to get more involved with the party. Rejecting Mr Gandhi's charge of the Congress not being allowed to make it voice heard in Parliament, Mr Jaitley said, "Why did they have to make this allegation? Is it because they have trouble in their own home - they're having a palace coup?" (
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"Let them say" was the clipped response to the Finance Minister from Mr Gandhi's mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The confrontation between the BJP and the main opposition party began this morning with Mr Gandhi, 44, telling reporters that "There is a mood in Parliament that only one man's voice counts for anything in this country." (
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Mr Gandhi's jibe was aimed at the PM, who the Congress has regularly criticised for a "dictatorial" style of leadership.
Mr Gandhi, often dismissed as a reluctant and reticent leader and politician by critics, showed unusual activity in parliament today. He joined other Congress law-makers in disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha, storming the well of the House, an area near the Speaker's chair that is off-limits. They were demanding an urgent discussion about the disturbing increase in communal violence in the country. The protests led to the house being adjourned.
In July, Mr Gandhi appeared to be asleep in parliament when cameras cut to him during a debate on escalating food prices.
Mr Gandhi fronted his party's bid for the national election in May with disastrous results. The Congress won 44 seats -its worst performance ever.