Kharge stopped from quoting book in Rajya Sabha, Opp’n walks out
The Indian Parliament has been witnessing a series of intense debates and discussions in recent times, with the Opposition and the ruling party often at loggerheads over various issues. In a latest development, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge was stopped from quoting an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane in Rajya Sabha, after which the Opposition MPs staged a walkout. This incident has sparked a fresh controversy, with the Opposition crying foul and accusing the government of trying to stifle their voice.
The issue began when Kharge raised the matter of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to quote the same book in Lok Sabha. Kharge argued that Gandhi had been stopped from quoting the book, which is yet to be published, and that this was an attack on the freedom of speech and expression of MPs. He demanded that the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, CP Radhakrishnan, allow him to quote from the book, citing the importance of the issues raised in it.
However, Radhakrishnan refused to permit Kharge to quote from the book, citing rules and procedures of the House. He argued that the book was not yet published and therefore, its contents could not be quoted in the House. This led to a heated exchange between Kharge and Radhakrishnan, with Kharge insisting that he be allowed to raise the issue and quote from the book.
The situation took a turn for the worse when Radhakrishnan stopped Kharge from speaking, citing the rules of the House. This led to an outcry from the Opposition benches, with MPs from the Congress and other Opposition parties protesting against the decision. The MPs argued that the ruling party was trying to stifle their voice and prevent them from raising important issues.
As the protests continued, the Opposition MPs decided to stage a walkout from the House. The walkout was led by Kharge, who was joined by other senior Congress leaders and MPs from other Opposition parties. The walkout was seen as a mark of protest against the decision of the Chairman and the ruling party’s attempts to stifle the voice of the Opposition.
The incident has sparked a fresh controversy, with the Opposition crying foul and accusing the government of trying to muzzle their voice. The Congress party has alleged that the government is trying to prevent the Opposition from raising important issues and that this is an attack on the democratic principles of the country.
The issue has also raised questions about the freedom of speech and expression of MPs in the Parliament. The Opposition has argued that MPs have the right to raise important issues and quote from relevant sources, including books and articles. The government, on the other hand, has argued that the rules and procedures of the House must be followed and that MPs must not be allowed to quote from unpublished sources.
The controversy has also highlighted the importance of the role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in maintaining order and decorum in the House. The Chairman has the power to stop MPs from speaking and to enforce the rules and procedures of the House. However, the Opposition has argued that the Chairman must also ensure that the rights of MPs are protected and that they are allowed to raise important issues.
In conclusion, the incident in the Rajya Sabha has sparked a fresh controversy and highlighted the ongoing tensions between the Opposition and the ruling party. The issue has raised important questions about the freedom of speech and expression of MPs and the role of the Chairman in maintaining order and decorum in the House. As the Parliament continues to debate and discuss important issues, it is essential that the rights of MPs are protected and that they are allowed to raise important issues without fear of censorship or retribution.
The Opposition has vowed to continue to raise the issue and to fight against what they see as an attempt to stifle their voice. The government, on the other hand, has argued that the rules and procedures of the House must be followed and that MPs must not be allowed to quote from unpublished sources. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved and what impact it will have on the functioning of the Parliament.
For now, the Opposition has made it clear that they will not back down and will continue to fight for their right to raise important issues and to quote from relevant sources. The government, on the other hand, has argued that they will not allow the Opposition to disrupt the functioning of the House and will take all necessary steps to maintain order and decorum.
As the debate continues, it is essential that the rights of MPs are protected and that they are allowed to raise important issues without fear of censorship or retribution. The Parliament is a sacred institution and it is essential that it is allowed to function smoothly and without any interruptions.
News Source: https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2019299438746091906
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