New Delhi, February 6: Congress National President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, along with other party leaders, staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha. This occurred while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was responding to the motion of thanks on the President’s address.
After the walkout, Kharge spoke to the media, stating, “Today, Prime Minister Modi was addressing the motion of thanks on the President’s speech. We wanted to hear him fully. However, for the past four days, we have observed that Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi has not been allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. We wanted to raise some important issues in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the benefit of the nation—firstly, for the sake of Democracy, and secondly, to protect democracy and provide relief to the common people.”
He further criticized the government’s handling of farmers’ interests, claiming that agreements with the United States have sacrificed their welfare. “What Trump says is taken as gospel. We wanted to question this, whether it pertains to foreign policy, Trump’s statements, social justice, or unemployment. One by one, all MPs were prepared to raise these issues, but Rahul Gandhi was silenced in the Lok Sabha.”
Kharge emphasized the unity of the opposition parties, stating, “We will only participate in the house if Rahul Gandhi is given the opportunity to speak. However, he has been denied that chance. We are not creating a ruckus. The government’s intention is clear: they do not want opposition leaders to speak in either house.”
He lamented the disrespect shown to prominent leaders who have sacrificed for the country, saying, “One person stands in the house, is given the microphone, and hurls baseless insults while the government remains silent. Has anyone from the BJP ever condemned this? Therefore, opposition leaders have decided that if we are not allowed to speak, we must walk out and protest, especially against the disrespect shown to our leaders.”
Kharge noted that the Lok Sabha has not been functioning for four days due to the opposition leader being silenced. “Both houses together form Parliament. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are pillars of Parliament, but the government is preventing one house from functioning to hide its mistakes. When Rahul Gandhi speaks in the Lok Sabha, he is not allowed to continue. This is detrimental to the country and democracy.”
