Lok Sabha chaos disrupted Parliament on Wednesday after opposition MPs staged protests just minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to address the House, forcing multiple adjournments and ultimately delaying his speech.
The disruption unfolded during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, an important parliamentary exercise that traditionally concludes with the Prime Minister’s response. Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were repeatedly halted amid sloganeering, banner protests, and confrontations between the Opposition and the ruling BJP, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
Disruptions Begin Soon After Proceedings Start
The Lok Sabha convened at 11 am but was adjourned within ten minutes due to continuous disruptions. The House reconvened at noon, only to be adjourned again shortly thereafter as protests continued. A third attempt to resume proceedings was scheduled for 5 pm, when Prime Minister Modi was expected to reply to the Motion of Thanks.
However, sustained disorder prevented the House from functioning normally, creating uncertainty around the Prime Minister’s address.
What Happened Before the Planned Speech
When the Lok Sabha reconvened at 5 pm after three adjournments, BJP member Sandhya Rai, who was presiding over the session, called BJP leader P.P. Chaudhary to continue the debate on the Motion of Thanks. Prime Minister Modi was not present in the House at that time.
As Chaudhary began speaking, opposition MPs entered the Well of the House. A group of women opposition members moved toward the Prime Minister’s seat carrying banners, eventually reaching the Treasury benches.
The protesting MPs raised objections over discussions related to an India-US trade deal and references to former Army chief General M.M. Naravane’s unpublished book. As the situation escalated and opposition members approached the Prime Minister’s seat, the presiding officer adjourned the Lok Sabha for the rest of the day.
Modi Likely to Speak in Rajya Sabha
With the Lok Sabha adjourned, Prime Minister Modi is now expected to address the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The upper house witnessed an uninterrupted debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address earlier.
There was no immediate confirmation on when the Prime Minister would speak in the Lok Sabha, as opposition protests are expected to continue. The Lok Sabha’s agenda for Thursday includes a discussion on the Union Budget.
Escalating Opposition-Government Clash
The standoff between the government and the opposition has intensified since the beginning of the week. On Tuesday, eight Congress MPs were suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session for unruly conduct, further deepening tensions.
Opposition protests began after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded a reference to General Naravane’s unpublished book during parliamentary proceedings. Senior ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, opposed the demand, leading to heated exchanges.
Gandhi later accused Prime Minister Modi of avoiding Parliament. In a post on X, he claimed the Prime Minister was “scared” to face questions. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said he was prepared to personally hand over the book to Modi if he appeared in the Lok Sabha.
Government Slams Opposition Conduct
Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticised the opposition for what he described as irresponsible behaviour. He said the disruptions during the President’s Address debate were unprecedented and accused opposition MPs of undermining parliamentary decorum.
“This is unfortunate. This is the first time such a ruckus has been created during the President’s Address. They are behaving like children,” Singh said, taking a swipe at the Congress leadership.