Prime Minister Narendra Modi taunted Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge during his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, as the Opposition launched sloganeering as he began his speech. As Opposition MPs kept shouting slogans and disrupting his speech, PM Modi suggested that Mallikarjun Kharge sit down and raise slogans from his seat, given his age.
PM Modi said, “Meri ek prarthana hai, adarniye Kharge ji ki umar dekhte huye, wo baith kar bhi naare bol sakte hain toh accha hoga, taaki unko kasht na ho' Peeche naujawan bahot log hain, toh Kharge ji ko baithke bhi naare bolne ki anumati de dijiye [I have one request. Considering Kharge ji’s age, it would be better if he could raise slogans while seated, so that he does not face any discomfort. Many young people are standing behind him, so please allow Kharge ji to chant slogans even while sitting].”
The Opposition also staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha as the prime minister continued his address. Attacking the Opposition, PM Modi said that the level of discussion from the Opposition side should have been a “little higher”.
He said, “I heard the discussion, I felt that the level of discussion should have been a little higher, especially from that side [Opposition side]. They have been part of the government for years. The level of discussion from that side should have been a little higher. But they lost even this opportunity.”
Mallikarjun Kharge reacts
After walking out of the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has not been “allowed” to speak for the past four days when he wished to raise some issues.
Kharge said that all Opposition members had agreed to cooperate and allow the House to function if the Leader of the Opposition were allowed to speak. However, since he was not given the chance, they made every effort to raise the issue, both in the morning and during Zero Hour.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, had not been allowed to speak in the House for the past four days.
He said opposition parties had agreed to allow the House to function and participate in discussions if Gandhi were permitted to speak, but the government did not allow it, despite repeated attempts during the morning session and the Zero Hour. Kharge added that the opposition had even appealed to the Prime Minister when he arrived in the House.
Kharge maintained that the opposition’s actions were in line with parliamentary rules and were carried out without creating a ruckus. However, he alleged that the government had decided not to allow either of the Leaders of the Opposition to speak in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the government remained silent when a member spoke against leaders who had sacrificed their lives for the country, even allowing the person to use the microphone to hurl abuses. He said the opposition had condemned such remarks.
“That's why all the party leaders decided that if they don't let us speak, we should walk out and protest,” Kharge said, speaking to the press outside Parliament.
