Lok Sabha stalled as opposition insists on Rahul Gandhi speaking before budget debate

The Lok Sabha faced repeated disruptions on Monday. A standoff between the government and the Opposition halted proceedings. At the center stood Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s demand. He wanted to speak before the Union Budget discussion began.

As a result, the House adjourned three times in one day. Finally, minutes after reconvening at 2 pm, the Chair adjourned the session for the day.

Earlier, the House resumed after the second adjournment. Sandhya Ray presided over the proceedings. She asked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to start the Budget debate. However, Tharoor raised an objection. He said Rahul Gandhi should speak first. He argued that the Leader of Opposition deserved priority.

In response, Ray said she had no objection. She invited Gandhi to speak on the Budget. However, she asked him to follow rules and procedures.

Then, Gandhi raised a fresh issue. He referred to a meeting with Speaker Om Birla and Opposition MPs earlier in the day. He claimed they reached an agreement. According to him, the Speaker had assured him time before the debate. He alleged that the Chair had now gone back on that understanding.

However, Ray rejected the claim. She said she knew nothing about such an agreement. She also stressed that members must submit prior notice to raise any issue.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju intervened. He denied any agreement. He said no such promise existed. He added that if Gandhi wanted to speak about the Speaker, Om Birla should remain present in the House.

Furthermore, Rijiju said many members planned to speak on the Budget. Therefore, he urged the Opposition to allow normal proceedings. He called for a broader and structured discussion.

Despite these appeals, both sides refused to step back. Consequently, Ray adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier, the day began with tension. The Lok Sabha witnessed two adjournments before noon. Opposition members raised several issues. They demanded immediate discussion. They also stalled proceedings.

Speaker Om Birla chaired the House at that time. He urged members to raise concerns during the Budget debate. He assured them of full opportunity. He said even the Leader of Opposition could speak freely.

However, Opposition members continued protests. Birla criticised them for “planned” disruptions. He asked them to respect parliamentary rules. Still, noise and sloganeering continued. Therefore, he suspended proceedings briefly.

At noon, the House reassembled. Yet, the deadlock persisted. Opposition parties repeated their demand. They insisted Gandhi must speak before any Budget debate.

Krishna Prasad Tenneti then took the Chair. He again called Shashi Tharoor to begin. However, Opposition MPs blocked the move. They demanded priority for Gandhi. As a result, proceedings collapsed once more.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha also faced turmoil. Opposition members staged a walkout. They protested after Chairperson C P Radhakrishnan stopped Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kharge tried to raise the Lok Sabha issue. He linked it to constitutional concerns. However, the Chair ruled that one House could not discuss the other. He repeatedly asked Kharge to change the topic.

Later, during Zero Hour, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva raised another matter. He accused Union Minister Piyush Goyal of breaching privilege. He said Goyal spoke on policy outside Parliament. The Chair said he had already addressed the matter. He promised to examine it later.

Overall, Monday reflected deep political friction. Budget discussions remained stalled. Both sides stood firm. As a result, Parliament lost valuable time. The deadlock now raises questions about cooperation in the days ahead.