New Delhi

The Rajya Sabha witnessed heated exchanges on Thursday between the Opposition and treasury benches after Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi was not being allowed to speak in the Lower House.

The protest comes amid Opposition outrage over the Centre allegedly blocking Rahul Gandhi from raising issues linked to former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir on the 2020 India-China standoff.

As disruptions continued, Opposition members staged a walkout from the Upper House. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha later in the day.

Raising the issue, Kharge said Parliament comprises both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and accused the government of undermining democratic principles by preventing the LoP in the Lower House from speaking.

“You have given me an opportunity to speak about the democratic principles of the country. Parliament has two chambers as per the Constitution. But the Lok Sabha LoP is not allowed to speak. He wanted to speak on matters concerning the nation,” Kharge said.

He alleged that one House was being “paralysed” to hide the government’s failures. “When Rahul Gandhi raises national issues, ‘aapko khujli uthti hai’ (you get itchy),” Kharge remarked.

Chairman C P Radhakrishnan intervened, reminding Kharge that proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha, citing established parliamentary rulings.

Leader of the House J P Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected strongly, saying issues of the Lower House could not be raised in the Upper House.

Hitting back at Kharge, Nadda said previous chairmen had consistently ruled against discussing Lok Sabha proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. Taking a veiled swipe at Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress should not “make its party hostage to an innocent child.”

“The government under Prime Minister Modi is ready for all discussions. The Prime Minister was prepared to answer questions in the Lok Sabha, but the Opposition did not allow the House to function,” Nadda said.

He added that senior ministers, including Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, had responded to Opposition demands and that Kharge himself had been allowed to speak beyond his allotted time. “Saying democracy is in danger is completely wrong,” Nadda said.

Kiren Rijiju urged the Opposition to allow the House to function smoothly, noting that discussions on the Motion of Thanks had been underway for three days and that the Prime Minister’s reply was scheduled for the fourth day.

“Lok Sabha proceedings cannot be discussed here. Why don’t you guide Rahul Gandhi to follow the rules?” Rijiju said, urging members to adhere to parliamentary traditions.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also intervened, objecting to Kharge’s alleged use of the word “lynching.” She cited incidents during Congress rule in Rajasthan and Kerala to counter the allegation and demanded the remark be withdrawn.

Amid sloganeering from both sides, Opposition MPs moved towards the well of the House, intensifying the ruckus.

The confrontation follows repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, which forced an adjournment before Prime Minister Modi could reply to the Motion of Thanks.