On July 3, during his address in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the opposition’s behaviour, asserting, “The country is watching that those who spread lies do not have the strength to hear the truth. Those who do not have the courage to face truth, do not have courage to listen to the answers to questions that were raised in these discussions. They are insulting the Upper House, the glorious tradition of the Upper House.”
In a dramatic turn of events, the Rajya Sabha witnessed chaos as opposition MPs staged a walkout during PM Modi’s speech. This act, which drew sharp criticism from both Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and PM Modi, has been labelled as an affront to parliamentary decorum and the Constitution.
The opposition’s walkout was triggered by claims that their Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, was not allowed to speak. The opposition, chanting “LoP, LoP” slogans, disrupted Modi’s speech and exited the chamber.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar strongly rebuked the opposition’s actions. He remarked, “The LoP was given adequate time to speak without any interruptions. Today, they did not just leave the House, they have left behind dignity. Today, they did not show me their back, they showed it to the Constitution of India. They did not insult me or you, they insulted the oath of the Constitution that they took. There can be no bigger insult to the Constitution of India than this…I condemn their conduct.”
He added, “It is an occasion where they have challenged the Indian Constitution. They outraged the spirit of Indian Constitution, they have disregarded the oath they have undertaken…Indian Constitution is not something to hold in your hands, it is the book to way of life. I hope that they will self-introspect and walk the path of duty.”
In a subsequent statement, Congress leader Kharge justified the walkout, alleging that PM Modi had made “false statements” in his address. Kharge claimed he was not permitted to respond, prompting the opposition’s protest.
However, Dhankhar’s condemnation was unequivocal, highlighting that Kharge was afforded ample opportunity to speak earlier. The Chairman underscored that the opposition’s departure was a direct challenge to the Constitution and parliamentary procedures.
During his speech, PM Modi reiterated his government’s vision for India, emphasizing commitments to eradicating poverty and other key issues. He highlighted the significance of the 2024 general election verdict, stating it reflected the people’s rejection of propaganda in favour of performance.
The controversy escalated when PM Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha, responding to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. He accused the opposition of spreading misinformation and lacking the courage to hear the truth. His remarks about former Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi, suggesting that the Congress was accustomed to governing on “auto pilot and remote pilot,” triggered an immediate reaction from the opposition.
In the midst of the uproar, opposition MPs alleged that Kharge was denied the chance to speak, prompting their walkout. Despite the disruption, PM Modi continued his speech, criticizing the opposition for their inability to face answers to the questions they had raised.
Earlier, during Lok Sabha proceedings, PM Modi faced similar disruptions from the opposition, leading to Speaker Om Birla reprimanding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The day’s events concluded with a solemn note as the Rajya Sabha condoled the loss of lives in a stampede incident at a ‘Satsang’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district. Kharge called on the government to enact legislation to prevent such tragedies in the future.
