Parliament Budget Session Highlights: Opposition MPs waited for PM's speech with posters in hand, Lok Sabha adjourned

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari criticized the Congress, saying, “You will be shocked to see the pictures of what happened today.” He claimed the opposition is disrupting Parliament because “the public is defeating them,” and they “will not allow us to speak in Parliament.” Tiwari said the country has achieved “such a great honor,” yet it is not being celebrated as they want to stop Prime Minister Modi from speaking. He added, “The country is watching everything,” and will demand answers from Congress. He also noted Rahul Gandhi cited an unpublished book, while Nishikant Dubey referred to one already published.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi criticised the INDI alliance, claiming they prevented Prime Minister Narendra Modi from addressing the session. She called the situation unfortunate and said it reflects poorly on parliamentary conduct. Sarangi added that the nation is watching closely and strongly condemning such actions.

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said the opposition was expecting Prime Minister Modi to come to the House and address important concerns. She stated that they wanted to raise issues such as the demolition of Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi and the vandalism of the statue of Ahilyabai Holkar. Yadav expressed disappointment that despite hoping to discuss these matters directly with the Prime Minister, he was not present in Parliament during the session.

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said the opposition has been repeatedly demanding that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition be given an opportunity to speak in Parliament. She alleged that the government is following different rules, pointing out that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey is allowed to speak whenever he wants. Gaikwad also mentioned that Dubey was showing a book during the proceedings, questioning why opposition MPs are not given the same freedom and equal treatment in the House.

Opposition parties have called a meeting tomorrow morning to finalise their strategy for the ongoing parliamentary session. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am and will take place in the Parliament building in the room of Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the government cannot dictate what the opposition will say during the reply to the President’s address, asserting that it has no right to prepare or influence the opposition’s speech.

Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day and will resume tomorrow.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda said the party will protest if the India–US trade agreement compromises the interests of farmers, asserting that their concerns cannot be sacrificed in trade negotiations.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal urged the government to ensure that senior and elderly citizens should have equal amount of money under various old age pensions across the country. 

Inside Lok Sabha, Opposition parties like the TMC, Congress, and SP were prepared with slogans and posters. As soon as the Chair took the seat, Opposition MPs rushed into the well of the House. They moved towards BJP MPs, raising their protest.

Senior BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kiren Rijiju, and Ashwini Vaishnav began speaking with Opposition members to calm the situation.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Deependra Hooda and Jyotimani walked towards Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju holding posters. The atmosphere became tense as protests continued, with both sides engaging in heated exchanges while attempts were made to restore order.

Aishwarya Paliwal input

Bhim Singh, BJP MP from Bihar, attacked Rahul Gandhi saying that the Congress MP has levelled very controversial and serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA in the past and has had to apologise in the Supreme Court, after the top court rapped him.

Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi defended Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. Channi said Rahul Gandhi called Bittu a "traitor" because he left the Congress party at a crucial time, especially during elections when the party needed support the most. He questioned how else Bittu’s actions should be described if not betrayal, emphasising loyalty and commitment in politics.

Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over his absence from Parliament during the ongoing debate. Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the PM was “scared” and claimed Railway Minister Nishikant Dubey “ran away like a bullet train.” KC Venugopal questioned why the Prime Minister was not present, accusing the government of turning Parliament into a mockery and vowing continued opposition resistance.

Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda, slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for raising a speech made in the Lok Sabha, saying that it is against the rules and demanded that the speech of the Karnataka MP should be expunged.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, during a speech in Rajya Sabha, demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey quoting books after books and making objectionable remarks against great leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.