New Delhi, February 11 In a light-hearted exchange, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that he would not be overly aggressive in his address to the Lok Sabha, as former party colleague Jagdambika Pal was presiding over the session. Pal had stated that if Gandhi had heeded his advice in the past, he would not be sitting in the opposition benches.
Participating in a debate on the Union Budget, Gandhi raised certain issues and mentioned specific individuals, which Pal, who was presiding, objected to.
"If a subject is not related to the budget, you cannot raise it. You were on the right track. Why are you derailing?" Pal asked Gandhi.
Responding to Pal, Gandhi said, "We appreciate your advice, you are a former member of our party, so I will not be overly aggressive today."
"I know you are not aligned with the BJP, sir," Gandhi said to Pal.
Continuing the banter, Pal said, "I am here as the presiding officer. But if you had heeded my advice, you would not be sitting there (in the opposition benches). You are only sitting there because you did not take my advice."
"Here, I am advising you, you should get back on track. You still have time to do so," Pal said.
Gandhi, in the spirit of their conversation, said that he would not mention the names that Pal did not want him to.
Jagdambika Pal, who was elected as a Congress MP in the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014 and re-entered the Lower House from Uttar Pradesh's Domariyaganj. He was subsequently re-elected on a BJP ticket in 2019 and 2024.
