On the day Rahul Gandhi returned to the Lok Sabha as MP, the House experienced chaos as BJP leader Nishikant Dubey accused the Congress of collaborating with anti-nationals and China to divide the country and create anarchy. Amidst the commotion, the House was adjourned until 2pm.

During the noon session of the Lok Sabha, Congress MPs entered the House with Gandhi, chanting slogans such as “Bharat Jodo Bharat Jodo” and “Rahul Gandhi Zindabad Zindabad”. It was then that Dubey stood up and alleged that an article in The New York Times had exposed the “tukde tukde gang” and certain media outlets that had joined forces with external entities to engage in anti-India activities.

He further claimed that China was providing funds to the Congress to oppose the Central government. According to Dubey, Congress leaders had met with the Chinese in 2016 to oppose the Narendra Modi government.

Amidst the support of thumping desks from BJP MPs, Dubey shouted, “They want to divide India through Chinese forces and some media”. He went on to accuse the Congress of receiving money from China between 2005 and 2014 during times of crisis.

He mentioned that in 2008, both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were invited, and in 2016, discussions with the Chinese took place during the Doklam crisis. Dubey specifically named Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Randeep Surjewala. He also claimed that the NYT report detailed how money was given to Maoists and journalists like Rohini Singh Swati Chaturvedi.

Despite attempts by Kirit Solanki, who was presiding over the session, to proceed with the day’s agenda, both sides continued to shout at each other. As a result, the House was adjourned until 2pm, The Indian Express reported.

After the adjournment, Opposition MPs gathered around Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, expressing their concern about how Dubey’s microphone was on throughout the session. They discussed the possibility of meeting the Speaker to persuade him to remove Dubey’s allegations from the records.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote a letter to the Speaker, condemning Dubey’s allegations as “libellous” and “defamatory”. Chowdhury demanded that the BJP MP’s remarks be expunged from the official records.

Chowdhury highlighted the incident in his letter, stating that Dubey’s microphone was switched on when the Acting Chair was giving the floor to ministers. Without any notice or permission from the Chair, Dubey proceeded to make libellous and defamatory charges against the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi, a member of the House. Chowdhury emphasized that this act violated Rule 353 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

In addition to the demand for expunging Dubey’s remarks, Chowdhury called for an inquiry into how such an allegation was allowed to be raised on the official record, invoking Rule 350.

Rahul Gandhi returned to the House at noon after the morning adjournment. He took his seat and attentively observed the proceedings. Earlier this year, he was disqualified as an MP after being convicted and sentenced to two years in jail in the Modi surname defamation case. However, his status as an MP was restored when the Supreme Court stayed his conviction last week.