Tawang, Feb 16: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday of deliberately disrupting parliamentary proceedings, alleging that NGOs have encouraged him with the notion that “good days” will return for his party.

Speaking to PTI during a visit to his Arunachal West constituency, Rijiju said Gandhi’s disruptions are aimed at creating issues rather than ensuring smooth functioning of the Lok Sabha. “Rahul Gandhi was tutored by some NGOs that your days will come. But their days won’t come. In the next elections, their tally in the Lok Sabha will further go down,” he stated.

Rijiju added that the government would not take extra steps to placate Congress despite efforts, including talks with senior leader K C Venugopal, to defuse tensions. “We are not going to do anything extra to placate the Congress. The Congress is frustrated because the party is losing election after election. They are desperate to change the situation,” he remarked.

He also noted that smaller opposition parties are unhappy with the stalling, as it reduces their speaking time. “All opposition is not with the Congress. Some smaller parties have not even signed the motion against the Speaker. Members from other parties have urged for the House to function,” Rijiju said.

The first part of the Budget Session saw repeated disruptions after Gandhi was barred from quoting excerpts from former Army chief M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir on the 2020 India-China conflict. Eight opposition members were suspended for unruly behavior, and opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, who later stepped aside.

The session began with the President’s address on January 28, recessed on February 12 after the Budget 2026 presentation on February 1, and will reconvene on March 9, ending April 2.