New Delhi: During the Rajya Sabha proceeding on Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge thundered that his “self-respect had been challenged” following his mic was turned off while speaking.
Amid the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur, the Parliament witnessed an uproar as opposition members demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the three-month-long strife.
The situation escalated as members of the ruling BJP-led alliance started chanting ‘Modi, Modi’, resulting in chaos and the proceedings being adjourned until noon.
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“This mic off is a breach of my privilege. i consider this as an insult. Today, my self-respect has been challenged in the house. If the House only runs on the instructions of the central government, then it’s undermining the democracy,” Kharge said.
As the Leader of Opposition in the upper house, Kharge’s speech was interrupted, leading to an immediate uproar from opposition members. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked the members to take their seats, attempting to restore order.
Despite the Chairman’s appeal to both Kharge and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to bring order, the heated exchanges continued.
Chairman Dhankhar clarified that the microphones were not turned off during the incident.
He explained that Kharge was given the floor when the House was discussing a legislative matter, and the deputy chairperson intervened to address any potential transgressions. However, the situation persisted, contributing to a tense atmosphere in the Parliament.
This tumultuous session unfolded as opposition MPs introduced notices in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, seeking a discussion on the ongoing situation in Manipur. The state’s ethnic clashes have become a focal point of contention, leading to a continuous stalemate in the parliament since the beginning of the monsoon session.
The opposition’s demands for a statement from the Prime Minister on the matter have added to the complexities and challenges faced by the legislative body during this session.
