'Chanakya Would Be Shocked Too': Priyanka Gandhi Takes Jibe At Amit Shah As Parliament Erupts In Laughter

New Delhi: During a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday regarding the Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bill, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi took a lighthearted jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah—a remark that left even him unable to suppress his laughter.

If Chanakya had been alive, he would have got surprised after seeing the BJP’s conspiracy to win elections.

— Priyanka Gandhi Ji slams fake Chanakya 😂 pic.twitter.com/ypt3Za760s

— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) April 16, 2026

What did Priyanka Gandhi say?

The MP from Wayanad stated that while the Congress party supports reservation for women parliamentarians, the actual debate does not center on the principle of reservation itself, but rather on the fact that this particular bill reeks of political opportunism.

Priyanka Gandhi asserted that the move to provide reservation for women is, in reality, a "political trump card" for the central NDA government, through which it seeks to gain an electoral advantage. She referred to an earlier address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he had claimed that the BJP has consistently championed women's rights. As she spoke, Priyanka glanced toward Amit Shah, who was smiling.

At this, Priyanka Gandhi herself burst into laughter. Laughing, she remarked, "You are laughing... Mr. Home Minister, you are laughing! You have certainly come fully prepared. If Chanakya were alive today, even he would be astonished; he would surely applaud your cunning." Her words were met with resounding laughter from members on both the ruling and opposition benches. Priyanka Gandhi and Amit Shah were laughing as well. The Congress MP further alleged that the government is exerting pressure on institutions such as the Election Commission, the judiciary, and the media.

The MP from Wayanad also questioned why a 33 percent reservation could not be implemented within the existing 543 seats of the Lok Sabha. She stated, "If this Constitutional Amendment Bill is passed, democracy in this country will cease to exist." Priyanka Gandhi also referenced Prime Minister Modi's speech, in which he had taken an indirect dig at the Congress party by suggesting that the move toward women's reservation has historically faced opposition.

VIDEO | Addressing the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) says, “Today, the Prime Minister also mentioned this, but as always, he spoke only half the truth. He told the House that there was opposition, but did not clearly state who actually opposed it.… pic.twitter.com/uAxKExLJPy

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 16, 2026

Why Did Priyanka Gandhi Invoke Nehru?

She said, "I would like to provide some historical context regarding this subject, as the Prime Minister spoke at length in his speech about who obstructed this initiative and how this decision remained stalled for 30 years. My colleagues on the ruling side may not appreciate this, but the historical foundation of this issue is inextricably linked to a man named Nehru." "Do not be alarmed; this is not the Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru) you tend to shy away from. His father, Motilal Nehru, drafted a report in 1928 and presented it before the Congress Working Committee, in which 19 fundamental rights were enumerated."

Why Did Priyanka Gandhi Credit Father Rajiv for Women's Reservation?

Priyanka Gandhi further stated, "In 1931, under the chairmanship of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Congress session was held in Karachi, where this resolution was passed. It was here that equal rights for women became an integral part of our country's politics. At that very time, the principle of 'One Vote, One Citizen, One Value' was also established." She noted that while countries like the United States had to wait and struggle for 150 years to secure this right, in India, this marked a unique step toward granting political rights to women. Priyanka added that the provision for 33 percent reservation for women in municipalities and Panchayats was first introduced in the House by the Congress government led by her late father and former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.