In the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, a tense moment unfolded in the Rajya Sabha as Leader of the House J.P. Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge engaged in a sharp exchange. Nadda, addressing Kharge, urged him not to let his party be controlled by what he termed as “Abodh Balak” (innocent child), indirectly alluding to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. This led to strong protests from Kharge and other opposition members, escalating the atmosphere in the Upper House.
Nadda’s comments, hinting at Rahul Gandhi’s conduct as inexperienced, sparked further tension. He emphasized the risk posed by a blend of immaturity and arrogance and encouraged Kharge to guide his party members towards a more democratic approach. Nadda also highlighted the disruptive behavior of the opposition, accusing them of jeopardizing parliamentary proceedings and hindering the functioning of the House.
The discussion also touched upon the recent Lok Sabha events where Rahul Gandhi had exceeded his speaking time without objection from the government. Nadda underscored the government’s willingness to engage in discussions on any issue at any time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ready to address questions in the Lok Sabha. However, he lamented that the opposition’s actions were impeding the smooth operation of the House, creating obstacles to constructive dialogue.
Addressing the India-US trade deal raised by the opposition, Nadda clarified that a statement had been made by Union Minister Piyush Goyal as requested. He mentioned that the specifics of the deal are still being finalized and will be presented in the near future, with no immediate question-answer session following the statement. The intense debate mirrored the broader tensions prevailing in the session, marked by disruptions in both Houses due to opposition protests on various issues, including concerns over discussion limitations in the Lok Sabha.
