High drama unfolded in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday as Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju engaged in a heated verbal spat. The confrontation erupted during Zero Hour amid persistent opposition sloganeering demanding statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding police action against student protesters and other issues. Despite repeated appeals from Deputy Chairman CP Radhakrishnan to restore order, the opposition continued its protests.
Invoking parliamentary rules, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the frequent interventions by the opposition leader, alleging that Kharge was repeating the same arguments daily without citing specific rules. Rijiju asserted that the Leader of Opposition cannot dictate the proceedings of the House or determine which minister should respond on behalf of the government, maintaining that government responses operate on collective responsibility.
Hitting back firmly, Mallikarjun Kharge asserted his right as the Leader of Opposition to present his arguments and choose how to address the House. Defending the opposition's actions, Kharge quoted former Union Minister Arun Jaitley to emphasize that parliamentary disruption can be a legitimate element of democratic protest. He accused the treasury benches of deliberately avoiding critical discussions and running away from addressing key national issues.