The Rajya Sabha witnessed heated scenes after Mallikarjun Kharge objected to Rahul Gandhi being denied a chance to speak, sparking protests, sharp exchanges and opposition walkouts.
New Delhi: Chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge objected to Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi being denied a chance to speak, leading to protests, heated exchanges between the Treasury and opposition benches and a walkout after Kharge was barred from quoting a book by former army chief MM Naravan.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge objected to Lok Sabha LOP denying Rahul Gandhi the opportunity to speak, leading to protests. (Parliament TV)”Parliament means Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as per our constitution. But the Lok Sabha LOP is not allowed to speak even when it wants to raise issues of national interest,” Kharge said.
Leader of Parliament Jagat Prakash Nadda countered that the minutes of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Upper House. “If you have so much interest, ask your party members to discuss the issue in the Lok Sabha and let the Rajya Sabha run smoothly,” he said.
Nadda said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to discuss every issue (Parliament TV)Opposition members raised slogans, with Chairman CP Radhakrishnan calling their behavior “undemocratic”.
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said disrupting Rajya Sabha business violated the rules of the House and reiterated that Lok Sabha matters cannot be taken up in the Council of States. “All members are waiting to hear the Prime Minister. If Congress members don’t want to listen, that’s their choice. But they can’t stop others,” he said, adding that Rahul Gandhi did not follow the procedure in the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said disrupting Rajya Sabha business violated House rules and reiterated that Lok Sabha matters cannot be taken up in the Council of States (Parliament TV)Kharge hit back, saying he did not want to disrupt the proceedings but that “Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together constitute Parliament. You cannot paralyze a pillar to hide your mistakes.” He accused Gandhi of upsetting the government whenever he talked about betraying the country.
Nadda said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to discuss every issue. “We are ready to give the minute details. But you have not allowed Lok Sabha to work. Put away ignorance and arrogance and follow democratic principles,” he said.
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Kharge stepped up his attack, saying, “In a parliamentary democracy, if the LOP is not allowed to speak for four days, what kind of system is it? We are a house of elders. Modi has made you a bonded laborer of his party – you cannot even speak without his permission.” “Our party does not beat or abuse like the BJP. These people are crushing democracy. If this is what happens to the elected members, what will happen to the nominated members?” he added.
Rijiju intervened and said that there is no rule that the Rajya Sabha should be adjourned because the Lok Sabha is adjourned. “You want to disturb the honorable Prime Minister. We condemn this strategy of the opposition,” he said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman objects to Kharg’s use of the word “lynch” (Parliament TV)Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman objected to Kharg’s use of the word “lynch” and demanded its expulsion. “If he talks about lynching, I remind him that when the Congress ruled Rajasthan a tailor was beaten to death and a teacher Father Joseph’s hand was chopped off in Kerala,” he said.
From the opposition bench, DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva cited Rule 238, arguing that any matter can be raised in the state council. CPI(M) MP John Brittas said that Parliament is a combination of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the President Constituent, adding, “Just as you respect the Prime Minister, you must respect the institution of the Leader of the Opposition.”
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the opposition was ignorant not knowing that there was no substantial evidence or media reports on the floor of the House (Parliament TV).Chairman Radhakrishnan reiterated that each House was independent in its proceedings, following a convention for decades.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said there was no substantial evidence or media reports on the floor of the House and the opposition was ignorant of the fact that communications between the army chief, prime minister and defense minister were not in the public domain.
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The conflict came to a head when Kharge was banned from quoting Naravaan’s book, prompting opposition members to walk out of the Rajya Sabha.
Concluding the debate, Nadda accused the Congress of undermining democracy. “It is clear how the opposition makes a joke of democracy. Their agenda is to spoil the development of the country under PM Modi. They cannot tolerate the blessings he gets from the people,” he said.
