Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused sections of the media of abandoning objectivity after he was questioned about a possible privilege motion against him, sharpening an already tense exchange between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Parliament.Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Gandhi criticised what he described as a pattern of uncritical reporting. “You are not totally employed by the BJP. At least try to do a little bit of objective stuff, it gets really shameful... it's too much. You are responsible people. You are media people; you have a responsibility to be objective. You can't just take a word they give you... every day and run your whole show on that. You are doing a disservice to this country,” he said, responding to repeated questions over whether he faced a breach of privilege notice.
The remarks came amid a charged session in which members of the treasury benches have accused Gandhi of making statements inside and outside the House that they claim misrepresent facts and warrant scrutiny under parliamentary rules. A privilege motion can be moved if a member is alleged to have breached the privileges of the House or its members, including by providing misleading information. Such motions are examined by the Speaker, who may refer them to the Privileges Committee.
Gandhi did not directly address the substance of the proposed motion in his brief interaction with journalists, instead turning his focus to what he characterised as selective amplification of ruling party narratives. His comments reflected mounting friction between opposition leaders and sections of television news channels, particularly during high-stakes parliamentary debates.
Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party reacted sharply. Senior party figures said Gandhi’s comments amounted to an attack on the press and an attempt to deflect attention from his own statements. Some accused him of seeking to intimidate journalists who were asking legitimate questions about parliamentary procedure. Treasury bench members have argued that public representatives must be prepared to answer queries about their conduct in the House.
The exchange highlights a broader contest over narrative control during a Parliament session marked by acrimonious debate. Gandhi, who assumed the role of Leader of Opposition following the general election, has taken an assertive stance on issues ranging from economic policy to allegations of institutional bias. His interventions have frequently drawn counter-attacks from the ruling party, which accuses him of spreading misinformation and undermining democratic institutions.
Parliamentary privilege is a constitutionally recognised safeguard intended to ensure that legislators can perform their duties without fear or obstruction. However, it has often been invoked in politically sensitive contexts, leading to disputes over its scope and intent. Legal experts note that while privilege motions are a legitimate parliamentary tool, their use can carry political overtones, especially when moved against prominent opposition figures.
Media organisations and press freedom advocates have long debated the balance between robust questioning and perceived partisanship. India’s media landscape is diverse, with a mix of publicly funded broadcasters, large private networks and digital platforms. Critics across the political spectrum have raised concerns about polarisation in coverage, while editors argue that competitive news cycles and opinion-driven programming have reshaped how political developments are presented.
Gandhi’s assertion that journalists should avoid “running their whole show” on talking points supplied by one party echoes earlier opposition complaints about editorial bias. At the same time, reporters covering Parliament face pressure to extract clear responses from political leaders when procedural issues such as privilege notices arise.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has not made any public announcement on whether a formal privilege motion has been admitted against Gandhi. Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker’s decision on admissibility is final, and only motions deemed fit are referred for further examination. If taken up, the Privileges Committee can summon the member concerned and recommend action ranging from admonition to more serious measures, though such outcomes are rare.
Political analysts observe that confrontations between opposition leaders and the media often play out as part of a wider communications strategy. By challenging journalists directly, leaders may seek to energise their support base and frame themselves as resisting a hostile information environment. Conversely, ruling party figures may portray such criticism as intolerance of scrutiny.