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In a dramatic turn of events, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge was stopped from quoting an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane in Rajya Sabha. This incident led to a walkout by Opposition MPs, who were unhappy with the decision of the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar. The controversy began when Kharge raised the issue of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to quote the same book in Lok Sabha.
Kharge, who is a senior Congress leader, was seeking to quote from the memoir to make a point about a specific issue. However, before he could proceed, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar intervened and stopped him. The Chairman cited rules and regulations that prohibit MPs from quoting unpublished works. Kharge argued that the book was relevant to the discussion and that he should be allowed to quote from it. However, his request was denied, leading to a heated exchange between the Opposition and the Treasury benches.
The incident has sparked a debate about the freedom of speech and expression in Parliament. The Opposition argues that MPs should be allowed to quote from any source, including unpublished works, as long as it is relevant to the discussion. On the other hand, the Treasury benches argue that quoting from unpublished works could be misleading and that MPs should stick to verifiable sources.
The walkout by Opposition MPs was a show of solidarity with Kharge and a protest against the decision of the Chairman. The Opposition MPs argued that the decision was unfair and that it restricted their ability to participate in the discussion. The walkout was also seen as a tactic to put pressure on the government to reconsider its stance on the issue.
The unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been at the center of controversy in recent days. The book is expected to reveal some sensitive information about the Army and its operations. The government has been keen to restrict any discussion about the book, citing national security concerns.
The incident has also raised questions about the role of the Chairman in regulating debates in Parliament. The Chairman is expected to be impartial and ensure that the rules of the House are followed. However, in this case, the Opposition has accused the Chairman of being biased towards the government.
The controversy surrounding the unpublished memoir is likely to continue in the coming days. The Opposition is expected to raise the issue again and push for a discussion on the book. The government, on the other hand, is likely to resist any attempts to discuss the book, citing national security concerns.
In conclusion, the incident in Rajya Sabha has highlighted the tensions between the government and the Opposition. The decision to stop Kharge from quoting the unpublished memoir has been seen as an attempt to restrict the freedom of speech and expression in Parliament. The walkout by Opposition MPs has shown that they will not back down and will continue to push for their right to participate in discussions.
As the controversy surrounding the unpublished memoir continues, it remains to be seen how the government and the Opposition will navigate this issue. One thing is certain, however – the incident has highlighted the importance of freedom of speech and expression in Parliament and the need for MPs to be able to participate in discussions without restriction.
News source: https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2019299438746091906
About the Author
