Kharge stopped from quoting book in Rajya Sabha, Opp’n walks out
In a dramatic turn of events, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge was stopped from quoting an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane in the Rajya Sabha. This incident led to a walkout by Opposition MPs, who were protesting against the restriction imposed on Kharge. The controversy began when Kharge raised the issue of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to quote the same book in the Lok Sabha.
The unpublished memoir, written by General Naravane, has been at the center of a political storm in recent days. The book allegedly contains sensitive information about the Indian Army’s operations and strategies, which has raised concerns about national security. However, the Opposition has been trying to use the book to corner the government on various issues, including the handling of national security and foreign policy.
Kharge, who is a senior Congress leader and a member of the Rajya Sabha, tried to quote from the book during a debate in the Upper House. However, he was stopped by Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, who cited rules and precedents to justify the restriction. The Chairman argued that quoting from an unpublished book was not allowed in the House, as it could compromise national security and violate the privacy of individuals mentioned in the book.
The Opposition MPs, however, were not convinced by the Chairman’s arguments. They argued that the book was already in the public domain, and that quoting from it would not cause any harm to national security. They also pointed out that the government was trying to suppress the truth and prevent the Opposition from raising important issues.
The walkout by Opposition MPs was a clear indication of their frustration and anger at being restricted from quoting from the book. The Congress, in particular, has been vocal in its criticism of the government’s handling of national security and foreign policy. The party has been trying to corner the government on these issues, and the unpublished memoir has provided them with a potent tool to do so.
The incident has also raised questions about the freedom of speech and expression in Parliament. The Opposition has argued that MPs have the right to quote from any source, including unpublished books, as long as it is relevant to the debate and does not compromise national security. The government, on the other hand, has maintained that quoting from unpublished books could be harmful and violate the rules of the House.
The controversy surrounding the unpublished memoir is likely to continue in the coming days. The Opposition is expected to raise the issue again in Parliament, and the government will have to respond to the allegations and criticisms. The incident has also highlighted the importance of parliamentary procedures and rules, which are in place to ensure that debates are conducted in a fair and orderly manner.
In conclusion, the incident in the Rajya Sabha highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and the Opposition. The restriction on quoting from the unpublished memoir has been seen as an attempt to suppress the truth and prevent the Opposition from raising important issues. The walkout by Opposition MPs is a clear indication of their frustration and anger at being restricted from quoting from the book. The controversy surrounding the unpublished memoir is likely to continue in the coming days, and it will be interesting to see how the government responds to the allegations and criticisms.
Source: https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2019299438746091906
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