Thursday’s Parliament session saw a dramatic escalation of tensions as Opposition MPs staged loud protests, culminating in a walkout from the Rajya Sabha while Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the House. The unrest follows chaotic proceedings in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, where repeated disruptions prevented Modi from replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.
In the Lok Sabha, Opposition members, led by Congress, demanded time for Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak. Continuous sloganeering forced repeated adjournments. Speaker Om Birla later cited safety concerns after some MPs approached the Prime Minister’s chair. Ultimately, the Motion of Thanks was passed without Modi delivering his speech.
The focus then shifted to the Rajya Sabha, where PM Modi proceeded with his address despite the raucous environment. At one point, he wryly remarked that senior Opposition leaders, including 83-year-old Mallikarjun Kharge, could “sit and shout slogans” instead of standing, sparking reactions across the House.
Modi used the opportunity to highlight government achievements, stressing India’s development progress and asserting that his administration has worked to “clean up the mess” inherited from previous governments.
Tensions boiled over when Opposition MPs, chanting “Let LoP speak,” staged a coordinated walkout in protest, accusing the government of curbing parliamentary rights. BJP leaders, including party chief JP Nadda, criticized the Opposition for stalling Parliament, accusing them of refusing to engage constructively. Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi, rejected allegations of threatening behavior in the Lok Sabha and accused the government of undermining parliamentary traditions.
