Rahul says will go easy on 'former Congress member' Jagdambika Pal; LS Chair fires back with swift counter

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal and Rahul Gandhi

The Lok Sabha witnessed some light-hearted moments on Wednesday during an exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Speaker Jagdambika Pal after the Congress leader raised the issue of the controversial Jeffrey Epstein files.

When Gandhi sought to question the government over reports referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers in recently released investigative documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Pal reminded him to confine his remarks to matters related to the Budget.

In response, Gandhi said he would not be harsh on Pal since he was a former Congress member. Pal shot back with a quip: “Had you listened to me, you would not have been sitting on that side of the House...I am here as a presiding officer."

#WATCH | In the Parliament, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "You (Jagdambika Pal), are an ex-Congress member, so I will do a special favour today, I will back down... You know we have a fondness for you. We know your heart is not there, your heart is here..."… pic.twitter.com/ZkdDXOv3dY

— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2026

Gandhi further said, “But we like you, sir, and we know your heart is not there. We know your heart is here."

Known as the one-day Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Pal joined the BJP in 2014.  He has since then been winning the Domariyaganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district for three consecutive terms.

He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh’s Domariyaganj constituency in 2009 on a Congress ticket. Over the years, he has served three terms as an MLA and has also been a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. Earlier in his political career, Pal was the president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress.

Pal is also known for his brief stint as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1998. Then a leader of the Loktantrik Congress Party (LCP), he was sworn in by Governor Romesh Bhandari on the night of February 21, 1998, following the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government. His tenure lasted just 31 hours.

Hitting out at the Centre over the India-US interim trade agreement, Gandhi also accused the government of compromising national interests and asked whether it was "not ashamed of selling India," alleging that it had effectively "sold Bharat Mata."

Gandhi said the government itself has acknowledged that the world is facing a global storm, with the era of a single superpower coming to an end, intensifying geopolitical conflicts, and the weaponisation of energy and finance.

Despite recognising this reality, he alleged, the government has allowed the United States to weaponise energy and financial systems in ways that affect India. "You yourself admit that we are facing a global storm -- that the era of one superpower is over, that geopolitical conflicts are intensifying, and that energy and finance are being weaponised. Yet, despite acknowledging this reality, you have allowed the United States to weaponise energy and financial systems in ways that impact us. When America says we cannot buy oil from a particular country, it effectively means our energy security is being dictated externally -- that energy itself is being weaponised against us. Are you not ashamed of this? I am saying you have compromised India's interests. Have you no shame in what you are doing? It is as though you have sold 'Bharat Mata'," said Gandhi.

He added that he did not believe the Prime Minister would "sell India" under normal circumstances, but claimed that external pressure was being exerted on him. He alleged that there was visible fear in the Prime Minister's eyes and referred to "Epstein files" being locked up, suggesting undisclosed pressures at play.