New Delhi, August 7: A fierce exchange erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Friday regarding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House and his statements. Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded that the Home Minister come to the House and address the members. He emphasized that the Chair’s authority is not being respected.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded by stating that the opposition cannot dictate which minister should respond to which issue in the House. This intense confrontation led to the suspension of the Rajya Sabha proceedings, first until 12 PM and then until 11 AM on Monday.
The opposition is protesting the police’s use of force against student demonstrators. They claim that on July 20, the police acted unjustly against students at Jantar Mantar, and they are seeking answers from the Home Minister. Kharge addressed the Chair, insisting that the Home Minister should attend the session. “I have nothing more to say. We have previously stated that the Home Minister should come and make a statement,” he said.
Kharge argued that the Chair had conveyed the opposition’s sentiments to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, yet no action was taken. He told Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan that despite communicating the opposition’s feelings, nothing had been done. “Your authority is also being disregarded. This is an insult to the House,” he asserted.
In defense of the government, Rijiju stated that parliamentary procedure clearly dictates that the minister responsible for a specific issue must respond in the House. He added that the opposition cannot decide which minister should be present for any topic.
Rijiju remarked, “The Home Minister is present in the Parliament complex from morning until late at night, but it is the responsibility of the minister related to the concerned ministry to respond. The opposition does not have the right to dictate which minister should attend the House.”
He also clarified that the Chair only communicated the opposition’s request to the government, without issuing any directives. Rijiju noted, “The Chair merely conveyed the opposition’s sentiments; no minister was instructed to attend the House.”
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister accused opposition members of creating disturbances in the House and then leaving, while the Home Minister remains present throughout the day. He stated that the opposition’s demands alone cannot determine that the Home Minister must respond to every issue.
During Rijiju’s response, opposition members protested loudly, leading to a chaotic atmosphere in the House. Both the government and opposition maintained their stances regarding the Home Minister’s presence, escalating tensions. Consequently, the Chair suspended the proceedings until 12 PM. When the session resumed at noon, the uproar continued, prompting the Rajya Sabha to adjourn until 11 AM on Monday, August 10.
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