Key Takeaways
- The Lok Sabha was adjourned multiple times due to disruptions.
- Eight Congress MPs were suspended for their role in the chaos.
- The Opposition criticised the India-US trade deal for undermining Indian farmers and industries.
New Delhi: In an unprecedented storm of disruptions, the Lok Sabha was adjourned multiple times and ultimately suspended eight Congress MPs for creating uproar, marking one of the most turbulent sessions in recent memory. The chaos centered around Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s repeated attempts to quote from former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir concerning the 2020 India-China border conflict, an act vehemently opposed by the ruling BJP and disallowed by Speaker Om Birla.
The day’s proceedings saw repeated adjournments as Gandhi persisted in raising sensitive national security issues, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “rattled” and withholding the truth about the India-China standoff. He alleged that the government feared a particular line in the memoir, asserting he had authenticated the source through a signed magazine article. BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, condemned Gandhi’s references as misleading and disrespectful to the armed forces, demanding decorum and accusing the Opposition of “speaking the language of anti-India elements.”
The tension escalated when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved a resolution to suspend eight Congress MPs, including Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh, Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Venkat Raman, for the remainder of the session due to their disruptive behavior, including throwing papers in the House. The Lok Sabha approved the suspension by voice vote before adjourning for the day.
Alongside the security debate, fierce protests erupted over the recently announced India-US trade deal, which Prime Minister Modi hailed as a landmark achievement. Opposition leaders criticised the deal for undermining Indian farmers and industries, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of “selling out” their hard work and questioning why the agreement was finalised suddenly after months of delay. The Opposition also raised concerns about reports of India agreeing to halt Russian oil purchases amid global geopolitical tensions.
The ruckus spilled into the Rajya Sabha, where Opposition members staged a walkout over the trade deal, further highlighting the deep fissures in Parliament over national security narratives and trade policy. The chaotic scenes underscored the fragile balance between addressing India’s strategic interests and managing domestic political dissent.
With Lok Sabha proceedings now set to resume on Wednesday, the session remains fraught with tension, reflecting the high-stakes battle between the ruling government and the Opposition over India’s security, sovereignty, and economic future.
