Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to conclude the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on Friday, December 19, 2025. | Photo credit: ANI
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP and senior leader John Brittas hit out at Congress President Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for attending the usual tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Brittas said: “An hour after MGNREGA – legislation that benefits millions of Indian workers – was scrapped in Parliament, it is unfortunate that some Congress leaders have decided to take part in the usual tea party.”
Past boycotts
He cited at least four instances of the opposition boycotting such gatherings to register their protest, including last year’s winter session when the opposition skipped a tea party to protest Home Minister Amit Shah’s alleged offensive remarks against BR Ambedkar.
“What message are they sending to the poor in India by welcoming the PM’s foreign trips and exchanging compliments after Mahatma Gandhi was killed for the second time (referring to the MGNREGA nomenclature change),” he said. The opposition criticized the government for not only dismantling MGNREGA, changing its demand-driven architecture, but also removing the “Mahatma Gandhi” prefix. Parliament on Thursday approved the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika (Gramin) Mission (VB-G Ram G).
Mr. Brittas said even Congress leaders were taken aback by such a spectacle. He also emphasized that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra does not hold any formal position in the Congress parliamentary party structure; others holding positions – such as its leader and deputy leader – were not present.
He further claimed that the government is preparing the ground for the replacement of Mahatma Gandhi’s image from currency notes. Pointing out that there was no formal call for a boycott from the INDIA bloc, he said: “Several leaders skipped the meeting. Did you see any DMK or TMC leaders there?”
He also pointed out that Ms. Vadra had not raised any issues related to her Wayanad constituency.
Published – 22 Dec 2025 21:20 IST
