The winter session of Parliament, which began on November 25 and continues until December 20, has been marked by heated debates and disruptions. Amid this charged atmosphere, a four-day debate was organized to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of India’s Constitution. The discussion was initiated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on December 13 in the Lok Sabha. Following him, Priyanka Gandhi, Congress General Secretary, delivered her maiden parliamentary speech, a momentous event after her victory in the Wayanad by-election.

Priyanka began by underlining the importance of India’s Constitution, stating: "The Constitution is a shield of justice, unity, and freedom of thought. But in the last 10 years, the government has made every effort to break it."

She highlighted how the Constitution guarantees justice across various spheres, including law, society, economy, and politics. Emphasizing its role as the backbone of the nation’s governance, she warned of the government’s alleged attempts to amend it. "If the results of the general election hadn’t turned out as they did, the government would have gone ahead with its plans to amend the Constitution."

A significant part of her speech revolved around the public demand for a caste census. She stated,” Today, the people of this country are demanding a caste census. Conducting such a census is essential. Through this, we can understand the true condition of all and formulate policies accordingly."

In a pointed remark, Priyanka criticized efforts to erase the contributions of national leaders who laid the foundation of India’s public sector and institutions. Without directly naming the individual, she said:
"They hesitate to even take his name. He was the one who established HAL, ONGC, the Railways, IITs, IIMs, and BHEL. You can erase his name from books and speeches, but you cannot erase his contribution to building this nation."

Through her powerful speech, Priyanka urged citizens and lawmakers alike to stand as protectors of the Constitution. Her maiden address was a bold assertion of constitutional ideals, a call for justice, and a sharp critique of government policies.