Chaos gripped Parliament as BJP and Opposition clashed over alleged gag on Rahul Gandhi, disruption of Prime Minister Modi’s address, and heated exchanges between J.P. Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge, deepening political confrontation in both Houses.
Chaos continued to disrupt Parliamentary proceedings on Thursday as sharp exchanges erupted between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition over allegations of silencing the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and attempts to obstruct Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed a turbulent start to the day, marked by repeated interruptions, slogan-shouting, and heated arguments. The uproar followed the adjournment of the Lok Sabha shortly after it reconvened, triggering Opposition accusations that the government was deliberately denying Rahul Gandhi an opportunity to speak on key national issues.
Opposition members alleged that the denial of permission to the LoP amounted to a systematic attempt to gag dissenting voices in Parliament. This charge drew strong rebuttals from Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, J.P. Nadda, and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who accused the Opposition of violating parliamentary decorum and obstructing crucial legislative business.
Kiren Rijiju condemned the conduct of Opposition lawmakers, asserting that Parliament functions on established rules and traditions that must be respected by all members. He emphasized that the Prime Minister’s address was a significant parliamentary event awaited by members across party lines.
“Today, all Members of Parliament are expected to follow the rules and traditions of the House. The entire Parliament is waiting to hear the Prime Minister’s address. While Congress may not want to listen to the Prime Minister, other members do. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha must also follow House rules,” Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha amid persistent disruptions.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, strongly objected to what he described as the humiliation of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi by BJP lawmakers. He was apparently referring to citations from controversial publications used during debates. Kharge asserted that such references were disrespectful and diverted attention from pressing national concerns.
Kharge reiterated that Rahul Gandhi had sought to address issues related to national interest and democratic functioning but was not allowed to speak. Questioning the manner in which parliamentary business was being conducted, he said, “Parliament consists of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. If the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is not allowed to speak on matters of national importance, how can the House be run in this manner?”
Responding sharply, J.P. Nadda countered the Opposition’s claims by stating that the proceedings of one House could not be debated in the other. “The Leader of Opposition must understand that the functioning and proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha,” Nadda said, effectively rejecting the Opposition’s demand for a debate on the issue.
As arguments escalated between senior leaders, disorder prevailed in the Upper House, with Opposition members resorting to slogan-shouting and repeated interruptions. Despite appeals from the Chair to maintain order, the atmosphere remained charged, reflecting deepening political polarization.
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Earlier in the day, floor leaders of the INDIA bloc convened a meeting inside the Parliament House to deliberate on a coordinated strategy to corner the government on issues of parliamentary functioning, democratic norms, and the alleged suppression of Opposition voices.
The continued deadlock underscores the growing strain between the government and the Opposition, raising concerns over the smooth functioning of Parliament and the ability of lawmakers to engage in constructive debate. With crucial legislative business pending, repeated disruptions threaten to derail the session, reinforcing calls for restraint, dialogue, and respect for parliamentary conventions from both sides.
