Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday were marked by sharp verbal exchanges and persistent Opposition protests demanding the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.
NEW DELHI — Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday were marked by sharp verbal exchanges and persistent Opposition protests demanding the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.
Despite continuous sloganeering of “Grih Mantri Sadan Mein Aao”, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan allowed Question Hour to proceed soon after the House reassembled at noon.
He told opposition members that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) would be given the floor once the initial questions concluded.
Following the first set of questions, the Chairman invited LoP Mallikarjun Kharge to speak. A heated face-off quickly developed between Kharge and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Defending the Opposition’s stance, Kharge asserted that members were raising critical matters of national importance and reiterated the demand that the Prime Minister and Home Minister address the House. He insisted it was his right to decide “how to speak, what to speak and when to speak”.
Citing former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Kharge maintained that “disruption is part of democracy” and that members possess the fundamental right to raise pressing public questions.
The debate intensified as Kharge accused Rijiju of misapplying parliamentary rules, alleging he had quoted Rule 239 while overlooking Rule 238, which says a personal charge or defamatory, incriminatory allegations against another member cannot be made, and criticised earlier remarks concerning Congress leader Pawan Khera.
Kharge stressed that no inflammatory or defamatory statements should be permitted inside the chamber.
Countering the allegations, Rijiju clarified that he had initially cited Rule 240 and pointed out that Opposition members were repeatedly raising matters already addressed with the Chair’s permission.
He said he was always ready to facilitate new members and noted that Khera, being a new member, had not yet made his maiden speech -- a point he had mentioned in the morning session.
Rijiju said new members should also be given an opportunity to speak.
Responding to the demand for the Home Minister’s presence, Rijiju said that while members could request decisions from the Chair, they could not dictate nor issue directions on which minister should be present in the House, adding that “we are all collectively responsible”.
Chairman Radhakrishnan noted his intent to facilitate newer members and observed that one member had yet to deliver a maiden speech. He, however, told the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to respect the sentiments of the Opposition as they are demanding the Home Minister’s presence.
The Chairman firmly underlined that no rule permits members to shout against the Chair.
As the Chairman attempted to restore order and proceed with Question Hour, he called upon member John Brittas.
When Brittas thanked the Chair for directing the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, the Chairman declined to entertain the point further and adjourned the House until 2:15 p.m. amid the unrelenting protests.
Earlier during Question Hour, Manoj Jha asked the government about steps taken to ensure representation of judges from Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities in the higher judiciary. Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal replied that the government always sends its recommendations to include judges from ST and SC communities in the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which lays down the procedure for appointment and transfer of judges to the Supreme Court and State High Courts.