Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi with other opposition MPs drink tea as they take part in a protest on the Parliament premises over reports of a nationwide shortage of LPG cylinders. | Photo credit: ANI
More than 200 retired armed forces officers, former civil servants, including diplomats and lawyers on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) demanded that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, apologize to the nation, claiming that his behavior inside the Parliament complex was a “violation of decency and institutional dignity”.
In an open letter, the signatories said Mr Gandhi’s actions on March 12 were “willful defiance of the President” and showed disregard for parliamentary authority. They said the opposition led by Mr. Gandhi did not respect the express instructions of the Speaker.
“Such deliberate defiance of the Speaker not only violates procedures but reflects a willful disregard for parliamentary authority and a willingness to place personal political theater above the dignity of a constitutional institution,” the letter said, demanding an apology from Mr Gandhi.
The signatories alleged that Mr. Gandhi and other MPs staged a protest on the steps of Parliament despite the Speaker’s directive against any such demonstration on the premises.
“Mr Gandhi along with several MPs were seen sitting on the steps of Parliament, drinking tea and biscuits in a manner totally unbecoming of members of the highest legislative body of the country. The steps of Parliament are not a place for spectacle or political theatre,” they said.
The letter was coordinated by former Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir SP Vaid and signed by 204 people, including 116 retired officers of the armed forces and 84 former bureaucrats, among them four former ambassadors and four senior advocates. The signatories expressed concern over the loss of valuable public time and said the disruptions and protests in Parliament had weakened its functioning.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – 17 March 2026 23:25 IST
