Amidst a raucous session of the Rajya Sabha marked by persistent opposition sloganeering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at Congress President and Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday. The Prime Minister's remarks came as he addressed the House on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.
As opposition members filled the chamber with slogans, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan called for order. In response to the disruptions, Modi directed a remark towards Kharge, suggesting that the 83-year-old leader be allowed to continue his protest while seated. Modi stated, "Looking at the age of Kharge ji, I urge you, the Chairman, to let him sit and sloganeer so that he faces no discomfort. There are young people at the back. So, please permit Kharge ji to sloganeer even while sitting".
The Prime Minister's comment was immediately met with strong reactions from the opposition benches, who perceived it as a disrespectful jab at Kharge's age and seniority. The remark ignited a fresh wave of protests, transforming the Rajya Sabha into a scene of heightened agitation. Following Modi's remark, opposition members intensified their sloganeering before staging a walkout from the proceedings. Their chants included slogans such as "Tanashahi nahi, Indira ji ka apmaan nahi sahenge" and "Leader of the Opposition ko bolne do", demanding that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak freely in the Lok Sabha.
The opposition's uproar stemmed from the tensions that arose the previous day when Rahul Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha was repeatedly interrupted due to references to an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane. The memoir reportedly touched on the sensitive topic of the 2020 India-China border standoff. Opposition MPs have accused the government of stifling debate on critical issues of national security and disrespecting prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Despite the ongoing disruptions, Prime Minister Modi continued his address, focusing on the government's achievements and responses to the President's address. He also used the opportunity to highlight the government's development agenda and the country's progress towards becoming a "Viksit Bharat," emphasizing the rapid advancements and widespread changes across various sectors in recent years. Modi pointed to the recent India-US trade deal as evidence of growing global confidence in India, portraying the country as a reliable and fast-moving partner. He stated that the world now acknowledges India's speed and stability. He also took a dig at the opposition, saying they view the trade agreement negatively.
The Prime Minister also accused the Trinamool Congress of pressuring the central government on the issue of illegal immigration, contrasting India's approach with that of prosperous countries that are actively removing infiltrators.
The events in the Rajya Sabha occurred against the backdrop of a contentious Parliament session, where proceedings in the Lok Sabha were also disrupted. Speaker Om Birla explained that he had advised the Prime Minister to avoid attending Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday after learning of alleged plans by Congress MPs to disrupt the session.