The Rajya Sabha plunged into chaos on Thursday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pointed remark about Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
Opposition members protested strongly, forcing repeated interruptions in the House.
The comment triggered sustained protests and eventually led to a walkout by Opposition members.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi rose to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. He remarked on Mallikarjun Kharge’s age and seniority.
PM Modi said the Chair could allow Kharge to raise slogans while remaining seated.
The statement immediately provoked sharp reactions from the opposition benches. They viewed it as a personal jibe questioning Kharge’s seniority and physical capacity.
Opposition members, already engaged in sloganeering, escalated their protests.
The House soon echoed with coordinated chants and repeated interruptions, pushing proceedings into chaos.
The disruptions intensified as members of the Congress and the broader INDIA bloc raised slogans such as ‘Tanashahi nahi’ and ‘Leader of the Opposition ko bolne do’.
Opposition MPs also demanded that Rahul Gandhi be permitted to speak freely in the Lok Sabha without restrictions.
Their protest extended beyond the immediate remark and reflected tensions carried over from the previous day.
On Wednesday, repeated interruptions disrupted Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha.
The ruling side objected to his references to an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane, which touched on the 2020 India-China border standoff.
Treasury benches argued that such references violated parliamentary rules and risked undermining institutional morale.
The Opposition rejected this position. Its members accused the Union government of stifling debate on national security matters.
They also alleged disrespect towards senior national leaders, including former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
As protests continued, Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the Upper House.
Despite the uproar, PM Modi pressed ahead with his address. He spoke to Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan and continued outlining the government’s response to the President’s Address.
Earlier in the day, Leader of the House JP Nadda had added to the charged atmosphere by criticising the Opposition’s conduct as irresponsible. His remarks further sharpened the divide.
Although PM Modi focused on the government’s achievements and policy direction, disruptions dominated the session.
The episode underscored deep political fault lines and highlighted the increasingly confrontational tone of parliamentary proceedings.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Addresses Rajya Sabha As Opposition Raises Slogans
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