Parliamentary Showdown: Opposition Demands Amit Shah, BJP Hits Back!
Parliamentary Showdown: Opposition Demands Amit Shah, BJP Hits Back!
Chaos in Rajya Sabha! Opposition demands Amit Shah's statement on student action, leading to heated exchanges with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Get the full story!
The Rajya Sabha witnessed yet another day of heated debates and repeated adjournments as the Opposition intensified its demand for Home Minister Amit Shah's presence and a statement regarding alleged police action against students. Leading the charge, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge called for immediate clarification from the Home Minister and even sought an apology from the Prime Minister for the "excess" against students.
Throughout the day, Opposition members consistently pressed for Shah to address the House, a demand they claim has persisted for the past 15 days. Amidst the protests, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was asked by the chairperson to convey the Opposition's sentiments to the Home Minister. However, Rijiju also argued against the repetitive nature of Kharge's statements, citing parliamentary rules.
The back-and-forth escalated when Kharge, after being allowed to speak despite objections from the treasury benches, asserted his right to choose what, when, and how he speaks, stating, "It's my right, what to speak, when to speak, how to speak." He reiterated his request for the Chair to direct the Home Minister to come and deliver a statement. Rijiju, in turn, countered that Kharge could not dictate which minister should attend or on what date.
Adding to the parliamentary drama, the BJP maintained that Home Minister Amit Shah is consistently present in Parliament House and in his office, ready to address concerns. However, the ruling party contended that the Opposition's continuous disruptions and protests have prevented him from doing so, effectively hindering legislative work.
Despite the uproar, the Rajya Sabha managed to clear the Appropriation Bill, 2026, a crucial piece of legislation authorizing the withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India to cover excess expenditure incurred during the financial year ending March 31, 2023. The bill, amounting to approximately Rs 54,067 crore, was returned to the Lok Sabha after approval by voice vote, completing its parliamentary journey as a Money Bill. The ongoing stalemate highlights the deep divisions and challenges in parliamentary proceedings.
