Watch: Chidambaram surfaces after 24 hours

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he had advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to come to the House as Opposition MPs had surrounded his chair on Wednesday.

In this special report, attention turns to the escalating tension in Parliament as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the Rajya Sabha at 5 pm today. The development came after his scheduled Lok Sabha speech was cancelled amid a complete breakdown of parliamentary proceedings. Speaker Om Birla noted, "The standoff that we see continuously between the treasury benches and the opposition benches is not resolved yet". The report also underscores the suspension of eight opposition MPs and the controversy sparked by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's attempt to discuss national security and quote from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane. Despite efforts by the Speaker and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to mediate, the deadlock continues.

In this Special Report, India Today's Piyush Mishra sheds light on the evolving strategy of the opposition in Parliament amid mounting tensions. Following a 10 am meeting of INDIA alliance leaders, the Congress has resolved to intensify its demand that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. Mishra notes that Congress MPs are steadfast in their stance, insisting that "first Rahul Gandhi should be allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha" before the Prime Minister delivers his address. The report also highlights the possibility of similar demonstrations in the Rajya Sabha, as opposition parties seek to ensure their leaders' voices are heard on key national issues. The bulletin features a reaction from Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, who stressed the fundamental role of discussion and debate in a functioning democracy. The programme delves into the political friction in both Houses, examining back-channel efforts and negotiations underway to resolve the ongoing parliamentary deadlock.

In this Special Report, the spotlight is on a heated exchange in the Rajya Sabha involving Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. During the session, Kharge raised serious concerns about the state of parliamentary democracy, saying, "I am just pleading before you how these people are crushing democracy and not allowing the opposition leader to speak". Kharge questioned the restrictions on discussing Lok Sabha proceedings within the Rajya Sabha, stressing that both Houses together constitute the functioning of the government. The debate saw interventions from the Chair regarding the use of terms like "bonded labour" and drew on historical precedents set by Jawaharlal Nehru concerning inter-house decorum. The opposition leader also accused the Treasury Benches of misusing their authority to stifle dissent, highlighting growing friction between the ruling party and the opposition over parliamentary rights.