Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a barrage of interruptions and heckling from opposition MPs during his address on the Motion of Thanks following President Droupadi Murmu’s recent joint address in the parliament session. The session quickly descended into chaos as MPs from various parties raised loud slogans and shouts, disrupting the Prime Minister’s speech on several contentious issues, including the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur and allegations surrounding leaked NEET-UG medical test papers.
The atmosphere in the Lok Sabha was charged, with Speaker Om Birla struggling to maintain order amidst the relentless uproar. At one point, as the opposition MPs shouted to drown out his words, Prime Minister Modi stood calmly, waiting for a break in the commotion, which elicited a chuckle from him.
The Prime Minister’s speech was marked by sharp jibes aimed at the Congress party, particularly targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who had delivered a fiery speech the previous day. Rahul Gandhi’s speech, parts of which were expunged from the record, had drawn strong reactions from the ruling BJP members.
Addressing the disruptions, Speaker Om Birla admonished Mr. Gandhi and the opposition for their behavior, reminding them of parliamentary decorum. “Yesterday, I allowed you (Mr. Gandhi) to speak for 90 minutes. No one stopped you. This is no way to behave,” he stated firmly, underscoring his displeasure with the chaos in the House.
The tense exchanges underscored the heightened political tensions following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP-led NDA fell short of its anticipated majority, facing strong opposition from the INDIA bloc led by the Congress party. Despite the challenges, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to its vision for a developed India and criticized what he termed as the politics of appeasement, advocating instead for inclusive policies.
The parliament session, which extended beyond two hours, saw both sides fiercely defending their positions amidst allegations and counter-allegations, highlighting the polarized political landscape in the country. As the session concluded, the debate left a lingering impression of deep-seated divisions and unresolved disputes within India’s parliamentary democracy.