Parliament Live Updates: Mallikarjun Kharge Accuses PM Modi Of 'Lying' In Rajya Sabha
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The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Tuesday, marking the conclusion of a productive legislative period that saw significant developments. The session, which commenced on 24 June, comprised seven sittings over a span of 34 hours, achieving a commendable productivity rate of 103 per cent, according to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
During the initial two days, 539 Lok Sabha members took their oaths or made affirmations. Om Birla was elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on 26 June, followed by President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on 27 June. The session witnessed a robust debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, initiated by BJP member Anurag Thakur and seconded by Bansuri Swaraj, with over 68 members participating. The debate extended for 18 hours, culminating with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply on Tuesday.
In a fiery speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong counterattack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, describing him as 'balak buddhi' (childish mind) and accusing him of linking Hindus with violence and spreading falsehoods in the Lok Sabha. "This balak buddhi at times tries to hug someone in the House and sometimes winks," Modi remarked, criticising Gandhi's conduct as unbecoming of a seasoned parliamentarian. He urged Speaker Om Birla to take stringent action against Gandhi to preserve the integrity of parliamentary democracy, stating, "Parliament was misled yesterday. Parliamentary democracy cannot be protected without taking the issue seriously."
Rahul Gandhi, present during the Prime Minister's speech, was reprimanded by Speaker Birla for instigating opposition members to protest during the address. Subsequently, the House passed a motion, proposed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and seconded by Home Minister Amit Shah, condemning the opposition's obstructionist behaviour.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha proceeding will resume today at 11 am. The Upper House on Tuesday also witnessed a contentious exchange when Chairman Dhankhar sarcastically suggested that Congress MP Jairam Ramesh should replace Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition, to which Kharge retorted, accusing Dhankhar of invoking the caste system. "Do not bring in the Varna system... that is why you are calling Ramesh very intelligent ... and I am dull," Kharge remarked. An agitated Dhankhar refuted the allegation, stating, "Never in the history of parliamentary democracy and Rajya Sabha proceedings has there been such a disregard of the chair."
Union Minister JP Nadda, participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks in the Rajya Sabha, highlighted India's economic achievements, asserting that the country had surpassed Britain to become the world's fifth-largest economy and is poised to secure the third position soon. "The Indian economy has grown by 8.2 per cent in 2023-24 and will continue to be the fastest-growing major economy," Nadda stated, emphasising India's significant contribution to the global economy.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned Sine Die
Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die after PM Modi's speech on Motion of Thanks to President's address.
Opposition's Rajya Sabha Walkout: Kharge Accuses PM Modi Of Lying In Rajya Sabha
Speaking on the Opposition's walkout, Mallikarjun Kharge says: "We walked out because the PM was misleading the House. It's his habit to lie. I told him that the BJP didn't make the Constitution. They were against it. I was only clarifying who was for and against the Constitution..."
#WATCH | On the Opposition's walkout from Rajya Sabha, Congress leader and LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge says, "We walked out because the PM was addressing the House on the President's address and told some wrong things to the House. It's his habit to lie and say things… pic.twitter.com/K3ckOaWnbL
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024
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