Fiery showdown in Rajya Sabha day after PM Modi's Lok Sabha speech cancelled
The fiery showdown in Rajya Sabha comes amid repeated disruptions and the controversy surrounding the cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed heated exchanges after Union Minister JP Nadda accused the Congress of allowing itself to be “held hostage to a naive child,” in an apparent swipe at Rahul Gandhi. The fiery showdown comes amid repeated disruptions and the controversy surrounding the cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
PM Modi is expected to address the Upper House at around 5 pm today.
In his remarks, Nadda blamed the Opposition for stalling proceedings and rejected claims that democratic functioning was under threat.
“You did not let the House function. I strongly condemn the allegation that democracy is in danger,” he said, before turning his criticism toward the Congress leadership and urging it to conduct its internal affairs more democratically.
"You must understand this within the party as well. In a democracy, things should be done democratically... Don't let the party become hostage to a naive child," the Union Minister added.
Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge hit back, accusing the government of stifling debate and not allowing Opposition voices to be heard in the Lok Sabha.
He said Parliament comprises both Houses and questioned why issues of national interest could not be raised freely. “How can you run the House like this?” Kharge asked during the exchange.
At one point, remarks made by Kharge were expunged from the official record by the Chair.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in, calling on MPs to respect the rules and traditions of the House.
“Today, we expect all MPs to follow the rules and traditions of the House. Members across parties are waiting to hear the Prime Minister’s address. If the Congress does not wish to listen, that is its choice, but others do. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is not following House rules, and Rahul Gandhi is not adhering to parliamentary norms. The Congress should not disrupt the House,” Rijiju said.
On her part, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly objected to Kharge’s “lynching” remark in the Rajya Sabha, demanding that it be expunged from the proceedings.
She also raised the issue of past incidents of violence, referring to the controversy surrounding a case in Kerala where a teacher’s hands were chopped off, questioning what action the then Congress government had taken in response.
As the showdown escalated, Congress members walked out of the Rajya Sabha.
The confrontation in the Rajya Sabha came amid ongoing protests in the Lok Sabha, where the Congress has alleged that Gandhi has not been allowed to complete his speech during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
On Monday, the Congress MP was stopped while attempting to read excerpts from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, which Gandhi had pitched as a matter of national securiity..
Congress leaders have accused the government of deliberately preventing Gandhi from raising what they described as sensitive issues related to national security.
The party has also announced meetings with other Opposition floor leaders to decide on a joint strategy.
The government, however, maintains that parliamentary rules must be followed and has rejected claims that debate is being curtailed.
The exchanges in both Houses reflect deepening friction between the Treasury and Opposition benches, with repeated disruptions overshadowing scheduled legislative business during the session.
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed heated exchanges after Union Minister JP Nadda accused the Congress of allowing itself to be “held hostage to a naive child,” in an apparent swipe at Rahul Gandhi. The fiery showdown comes amid repeated disruptions and the controversy surrounding the cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
PM Modi is expected to address the Upper House at around 5 pm today.
In his remarks, Nadda blamed the Opposition for stalling proceedings and rejected claims that democratic functioning was under threat.
“You did not let the House function. I strongly condemn the allegation that democracy is in danger,” he said, before turning his criticism toward the Congress leadership and urging it to conduct its internal affairs more democratically.
"You must understand this within the party as well. In a democracy, things should be done democratically... Don't let the party become hostage to a naive child," the Union Minister added.
Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge hit back, accusing the government of stifling debate and not allowing Opposition voices to be heard in the Lok Sabha.
He said Parliament comprises both Houses and questioned why issues of national interest could not be raised freely. “How can you run the House like this?” Kharge asked during the exchange.
At one point, remarks made by Kharge were expunged from the official record by the Chair.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in, calling on MPs to respect the rules and traditions of the House.
“Today, we expect all MPs to follow the rules and traditions of the House. Members across parties are waiting to hear the Prime Minister’s address. If the Congress does not wish to listen, that is its choice, but others do. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is not following House rules, and Rahul Gandhi is not adhering to parliamentary norms. The Congress should not disrupt the House,” Rijiju said.
On her part, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly objected to Kharge’s “lynching” remark in the Rajya Sabha, demanding that it be expunged from the proceedings.
She also raised the issue of past incidents of violence, referring to the controversy surrounding a case in Kerala where a teacher’s hands were chopped off, questioning what action the then Congress government had taken in response.
As the showdown escalated, Congress members walked out of the Rajya Sabha.
The confrontation in the Rajya Sabha came amid ongoing protests in the Lok Sabha, where the Congress has alleged that Gandhi has not been allowed to complete his speech during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
On Monday, the Congress MP was stopped while attempting to read excerpts from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, which Gandhi had pitched as a matter of national securiity..
Congress leaders have accused the government of deliberately preventing Gandhi from raising what they described as sensitive issues related to national security.
The party has also announced meetings with other Opposition floor leaders to decide on a joint strategy.
The government, however, maintains that parliamentary rules must be followed and has rejected claims that debate is being curtailed.
The exchanges in both Houses reflect deepening friction between the Treasury and Opposition benches, with repeated disruptions overshadowing scheduled legislative business during the session.