PM Modi's Sarcastic Remarks Trigger Opposition Walkout in Rajya Sabha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp and sarcastic response during his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, specifically targeting protesting opposition members. The Prime Minister's pointed comments ignited immediate reactions and eventually led to a dramatic walkout by opposition MPs.
Targeted Remarks Against Senior Opposition Leader
During his parliamentary address, Prime Minister Modi singled out Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge with a particularly cutting remark. "Given Kharge ji's age and seniority, I urge the Chair that he can stay seated and still raise his voice," Modi stated, drawing immediate attention to the senior Congress leader's position in the House.
This comment came as opposition members began shouting slogans almost immediately after the Prime Minister commenced his reply. Despite the continuous sloganeering and disruptions from opposition benches, Modi persisted with his speech, maintaining his composure throughout the noisy proceedings.
Stormy Parliamentary Proceedings
The Rajya Sabha session witnessed particularly stormy scenes that mirrored earlier disruptions in Lok Sabha. The core issue centered around the opposition's demand that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi be permitted to speak in the lower house. This parliamentary confrontation created a tense atmosphere even before the Prime Minister's address.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha faced immediate adjournment shortly after reconvening, setting the stage for the subsequent uproar in the Upper House. Opposition members accused the government of deliberately silencing the Leader of the Opposition, prompting strong counter-responses from government representatives.
Government-Opposition Confrontation Intensifies
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar granted special permission to Mallikarjun Kharge to address the House regarding the restrictions placed on Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary speaking rights. The Congress president strongly condemned what he described as deliberate limitations on discussing matters of national importance.
"How can Parliament function effectively when opposition voices are systematically suppressed?" Kharge questioned during his intervention. He emphasized concerns about democratic processes being undermined through such parliamentary restrictions.
Final Provocation and Walkout
The parliamentary confrontation reached its climax when opposition members decided to stage a walkout from Rajya Sabha. This dramatic exit prompted one final jab from Prime Minister Modi, who remarked "Thak gaye, bhaag gaye" (They got tired and ran away) as opposition MPs left the chamber.
Government representatives, including Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha J P Nadda and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, offered strong rebuttals to opposition allegations throughout the session. The exchange highlighted the deepening rift between treasury and opposition benches on parliamentary conduct and speaking rights.
The day's events underscored the ongoing tensions in Parliament regarding:
- Opposition speaking rights and parliamentary privileges
- Government-opposition communication breakdown
- Procedural disagreements in both Houses of Parliament
- The broader political confrontation between ruling and opposition parties
This parliamentary showdown reflects the continuing political polarization affecting legislative proceedings, with both sides demonstrating little willingness to compromise on procedural matters and speaking opportunities for opposition leaders.
