Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju joked that Priyanka Gandhi had "stolen" her brother Rahul Gandhi’s speech during a Lok Sabha session today.
The remark occurred during a debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The exchange highlights the ongoing tension and occasional levity between the ruling government and the opposition regarding legislation aimed at curbing exam malpractice.
Rijiju used the humor to criticize the opposition for failing to engage substantively with the bill. He suggested that Priyanka Gandhi was merely echoing the arguments already presented by Rahul Gandhi, which prompted laughter from members of the House [1, 2].
"Rahul Gandhi ji ka speech ka chori kar liya hai," Rijiju said [1].
The legislation under discussion seeks to amend an anti-paper-leak law that is two years old [3]. The amendment aims to introduce stricter punishments for those involved in leaking examination papers to ensure the integrity of public exams [3].
Rijiju previously described the proceedings as a significant moment for the legislature. "This is a big day for all of us," he said [2].
The parliamentary atmosphere remained charged as the government urged the opposition to move beyond political maneuvering and debate the merits of the bill. The legislation follows a period of significant scrutiny, including a protest by the Chief Justice of India that lasted more than one month [3].
“"Rahul Gandhi ji ka speech ka chori kar liya hai."”
The interaction reflects a tactical use of humor by the government to marginalize opposition critiques by framing them as repetitive or derivative. By focusing on the similarity between the Gandhi siblings' arguments, the administration attempts to shift the narrative from the legal specifics of the amendment to the perceived lack of original policy contributions from the Congress party.
