Priyanka Gandhi’s Tea with Modi Sparks Debate on Protest Timing

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas has strongly criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for attending a traditional tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, hours after Parliament passed amendments to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Tea Party After Winter Session

The tea meeting was held on December 19, marking the conclusion of the Winter Session of Parliament, and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders from various political parties. Such gatherings are customary at the end of parliamentary sessions and are usually intended to promote cordiality among lawmakers.

Brittas Expresses “Shame” Over Congress Participation

Reacting sharply, Brittas said it was “shameful” that some Congress leaders chose to attend the event at a time when the government had just passed a controversial bill altering MGNREGA. According to him, the decision to socialise with the ruling establishment sent the wrong political and moral signal.

He pointed out that Priyanka Gandhi does not hold any official position in the Congress Parliamentary Party, while several senior party leaders were absent from the meeting. Brittas also recalled past instances where opposition parties had boycotted similar events as a mark of protest against government policies.

Opposition Anger Over MGNREGA Changes

The amendments to MGNREGA have triggered sharp opposition reactions, as the new legislation reportedly removes Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme and restructures it, which opposition parties view as a dilution of a crucial rural employment programme.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been vocal in their opposition. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government had “erased twenty years of MGNREGA in a single day” without adequate debate. Sonia Gandhi described the move as akin to “bulldozing” the scheme and criticised the removal of Gandhi’s name without consultation.

Message to Rural Workers Questioned

While reports described the tea meeting as cordial, with leaders engaging in light conversation across party lines, Brittas questioned the optics of such participation. He asked what message it would send to millions of poor and rural workers who depend on MGNREGA for livelihood security.

Debate Over Opposition Unity

The episode has reignited debate over opposition unity and political signalling at a time of intense parliamentary confrontation. While some see attendance at such events as routine protocol, others argue it undermines collective resistance to controversial government decisions.

The controversy underscores the growing divergence within opposition ranks on how to respond to major policy shifts and political symbolism inside Parliament.