Kharge raises concern over Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak in Lok Sabha

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday raised concerns in the Upper House over Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, not being allowed to speak in Parliament over the past few days.

Kharge said, “Parliament means both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha wanted to speak in the interest of the country, but was not allowed to do so. How can the House be run like this?”

Responding to this, Union Minister JP Nadda said, “The LoP should know that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha.”

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised Kharge and the opposition, stating, “Today, we all expect that all MPs will follow the rules and traditions of the House. All MPs are waiting to hear the Prime Minister’s speech. If Congress does not want to listen to the PM’s address, that is their choice, but all other members do. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha does not follow House rules.”

Kharge later clarified that he did not intend to disturb the proceedings of the House. However, he pointed out that the Lok Sabha has not been functioning properly for the past four days and stressed that both Houses should function, not just one.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore told the media that parliamentary democracy "is facing difficult times in India. The mics of Opposition leaders are switched off... It is becoming a 'mann ki baat' government and 'mann ki baat' Parliament..."

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, talking to Media said that the LoP of the Lok Sabha should be allowed to speak.

"What are they scared of? That he will quote from a book? Or are they scared ofthe Epstein files? Or that we will question them on this deal ( US-India trade agreement)?" she added.

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