India’s opposition Congress party has filed a privilege motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that remarks made in a televised national address breached parliamentary norms and undermined the dignity of the House.

The motion was submitted Tuesday to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha by senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament K. C. Venugopal, who also chairs the Public Accounts Committee.

Venugopal argued that the Prime Minister’s April 18 address to the nation went beyond established convention, following the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 to secure a majority in Parliament.

In his notice, Venugopal alleged that the Prime Minister directly questioned the intent of opposition MPs and commented on their voting behaviour, which he said amounted to a “serious breach of privilege” and an affront to the dignity of the House.

“The address was not in keeping with the tradition of national addresses, which are meant for matters of national importance, not political criticism,” the notice stated.

He further claimed that the remarks represented an “abuse of power,” particularly given that the government had failed to demonstrate majority support for the bill in Parliament.

The opposition had voted against the legislation on April 16 and 17, citing concerns over specific provisions, including those related to delimitation. Congress leaders noted that the party had previously supported the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh backed the move, saying the Prime Minister’s speech reflected partisan politics rather than national unity and would remain a “permanent blot” on his record following the bill’s defeat.

Venugopal has urged the Speaker to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges for a formal investigation.