Congress MP Files Privilege Notice Against Modi Over TV Address

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal submitted a privilege notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of breaching parliamentary privilege through remarks made during a televised national address on April 18, 2026. The notice, filed under Rule 222 of the Lok Sabha's rules of procedure, targets Modi's criticism of opposition lawmakers for their role in defeating a key constitutional amendment bill the previous day.

The controversy centers on the Constitution 131st Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced by the government during a special parliamentary session. The legislation sought to implement women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, as provided under the 2023 Constitution 106th Amendment Act, while also proposing to redraw electoral constituency boundaries through delimitation. As a constitutional amendment, it required a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha to pass. The ruling National Democratic Alliance lacks such a majority in either house and needed opposition support, which was not forthcoming. On April 17, the bill was defeated in the lower house after opposition parties, including Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam,...