Echo sentiments of Opposition to Home Minister: Rajya Sabha Chairman tells government

On the 14th day of the Monsoon Session, the Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan instructed the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to "echo the sentiments of the Opposition" to Home Minister Amit Shah. The session, marked by disruptions, particularly in the first half of the day reserved for non-legislative work, including Question Hour, saw two adjournments in the morning session.

With Opposition sloganeering drowning out the Zero Hour speeches of members, Rijiju raised a point of order based on two rules - not interrupting members and allowing the Chair to truncate speeches when members repeat their arguments. He also pointed out that Congress MP Pawan Khera, who had not yet delivered his maiden speech, had been engaging in continuous protests.

When the session reconvened at noon for Question Hour, the protests persisted. Despite the disruptions, Chairman Radhakrishnan granted Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge the floor. Kharge criticized the government, stating that the Opposition raised genuine questions concerning the country and its 140 crore people. He also cited late BJP leader Arun Jaitley's remarks that disruptions are a part of parliamentary democracy.

The Chairman requested the Home Minister to come to the House and provide a statement, inviting the Opposition to discuss the matter. Amid the continuous protests, the proceedings were adjourned till 2.15 p.m. Later, in a press conference, Kharge expressed satisfaction with the Chairman's direction, claiming that there could only be two reasons for the Home Minister's absence: either he believes that "Parliament does not matter" or he is "scared".