Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak Seeks Protection After Alleged Discomfort Caused by Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, 20th December 2024: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak on Thursday accused Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, of making her feel uncomfortable during a protest in Parliament.
In a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Konyak, who hails from a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community and is a woman member, expressed that her “dignity and self-esteem” were severely hurt by Gandhi’s actions. She also requested the Chairman’s protection.
Konyak explained that while she was peacefully protesting, Gandhi, along with other Congress members, approached her despite a separate passage being allocated for them. She claimed that his loud behaviour and physical proximity caused her discomfort. “His actions were such that, as a woman member, I felt extremely uncomfortable. I stepped aside reluctantly, feeling that no Member of Parliament should behave in such a manner,” she wrote in the letter.
Konyak made history in April 2022 by becoming the first woman from Nagaland to be elected to the Rajya Sabha and the second woman from the state to enter either House of Parliament. She also made a series of significant achievements, including becoming the first female Rajya Sabha member to join the panel of vice-chairpersons in July 2023. A week later, she became the first woman from Nagaland to preside over the Upper House.
Following her historic role as presiding officer, Konyak shared her gratitude on social media, expressing her privilege and pride in overseeing a productive session that passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for empowering women in politics and leadership.
Konyak, from Dimapur, holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. She has served on the Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, and is a member of the Committee on Empowerment of Women. Additionally, she is part of the Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong.
