Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha after Kharge denied right to speak

Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Monday staged a walkout in protest after Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to raise certain issues during Question Hour .

Kharge rose to point out that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was not permitted to speak on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address , a key parliamentary debate. Chairman C P Radhakrishnan, however, said the matter pertained to Lok Sabha proceedings and that “nothing that he says will go on record,” effectively disallowing him from speaking.

Earlier, Kharge had also attempted to raise the issue of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s statement on the India-US trade framework made outside the House while Parliament was in session , but the Chairman did not allow this either. As Kharge was prevented from speaking, all Opposition members rose in protest, continuing to voice their objections even as the Chairman proceeded with Question Hour, and ultimately staged a walkout from the House.

The incident comes amid wider parliamentary tensions. In the Lok Sabha, the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address remains a point of contention , with the Opposition claiming that Rahul Gandhi was not given an opportunity to speak, prompting repeated disruptions. The House has been adjourned till today amid Opposition protests over the India-US trade framework and other key issues.

Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, debates on the Motion of Thanks are ongoing , alongside protests by the Opposition over issues they say are being ignored. The standoff reflects a broader parliamentary deadlock, with the Opposition objecting to what they describe as curbs on their right to speak in both Houses .