Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were disrupted on Monday during the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address, leading to an adjournment till 3 pm. The debate saw sharp exchanges between the government and the Opposition, with objections raised over remarks made during the discussion and repeated references to parliamentary rules by the Chair.
The Budget Session debate, which began with the government outlining its vision and priorities, has since been marked by disagreements over procedure, content, and the scope of issues being raised in the House.
Updates below track key speeches, rulings by the Speaker, and developments from the Parliament Budget Session 2026
Why is the government afraid of discussion on China? asks Shashi Tharoor
On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement inside the Parliament, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "... Why do we have a government that is afraid of discussion? It's really a pity. I think the government should not have reacted this way. They should have encouraged a discussion, cleared the air, clarified things, the entire issue of China is a matter of great concern to the entire nation. Have a full discussion on China. Foreign Affairs Minister, Defence Minister, let them all speak and let the people know what's going on. Don't have a situation where everything is being brushed under the carpet. That is not healthy for our democracy. It is not healthy for the functioning of parliament."
Rahul Gandhi says 'govt scared of one line, and I will speak that line'
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "They are scared of a line. There is one line in it that PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are scared of. I will say that line inside Parliament, and no one will stop me..."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "...It should be from a published source, either from a book or a magazine. This is an excerpt from the book and it has been published. There is no unauthenticated source in this...What is the problem then?... Why are they scared?..."
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018278488575443101
Rahul Gandhi says 'govt scared of one line, and I will speak that line'
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "They are scared of a line. There is one line in it that PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are scared of. I will say that line inside Parliament, and no one will stop me..."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "...It should be from a published source, either from a book or a magazine. This is an excerpt from the book and it has been published. There is no unauthenticated source in this...What is the problem then?... Why are they scared?..."
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018278488575443101
A smiling Rahul says he will try to speak again
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018263095488209305
Lok Sabha stands adjourned till 4 PM after chaos over Rahul Gandhi's claims on India-China standoff
'Parliament is being strangled': Congress's Manickam Tagore asks why can't the Army Generals' book be quoted
On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement inside the Parliament, Congress MP Manickam Tagore says, "It is very unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, was not allowed to speak. From the beginning, the first Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, was disturbing, then Amit Shah jumped in, and then Kiren Rijiju started speaking... Why should the Army general's words and book not be quoted in the Parliament?... The Parliament is being strangled. The Speaker's chair has been pushed to a corner by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister..."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demands Rahul Gandhi's apology
"Our party initiated the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. All of us were seated to hear the speech of LoP Rahul Gandhi. But right from the beginning, Rahul Gandhi flouted rules and started quoting from a book whose publication and authenticity of a book is not clearly mentioned. Defence Minister and all of us said that the House will function as per rules and one should speak as per rules...One cannot challenge the Chair. Even after the ruling of Lok Sabha Speaker, Rahul Gandhi kept repeating the same mistake...He wasted half an hour, violated rules and kept saying the same thing. He started speaking on China border...Can Congress party bring back the landmass that was captured by China in 1959 and 1962? Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation...If someone is born in a known family, are they above the Parliament? Are they above the rules? India is a democratic nation and function as per rules...Rahul Gandhi doesn't follow any rules. He conciders himself above Parliament. Senior Congress leaders got up and started clapping...Rahul Gandhi should use his brains and make his MPs understand to follow rules. That is my request to him. He should apologise for the sin of Congress with respect to China border..."
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018260013505220914
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demands Rahul Gandhi's apology
"Our party initiated the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. All of us were seated to hear the speech of LoP Rahul Gandhi. But right from the beginning, Rahul Gandhi flouted rules and started quoting from a book whose publication and authenticity of a book is not clearly mentioned. Defence Minister and all of us said that the House will function as per rules and one should speak as per rules...One cannot challenge the Chair. Even after the ruling of Lok Sabha Speaker, Rahul Gandhi kept repeating the same mistake...He wasted half an hour, violated rules and kept saying the same thing. He started speaking on China border...Can Congress party bring back the landmass that was captured by China in 1959 and 1962? Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation...If someone is born in a known family, are they above the Parliament? Are they above the rules? India is a democratic nation and function as per rules...Rahul Gandhi doesn't follow any rules. He conciders himself above Parliament. Senior Congress leaders got up and started clapping...Rahul Gandhi should use his brains and make his MPs understand to follow rules. That is my request to him. He should apologise for the sin of Congress with respect to China border..."
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018260013505220914
On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement inside the Parliament, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal says, "Action should be taken against them... This must have happened for the first time since Independence that someone was asked to stop doing the same thing five times... He had planned to do this... His address today was embarrassing and condemnable."
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018258662540931339
On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement inside the Parliament, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal says, "Action should be taken against them... This must have happened for the first time since Independence that someone was asked to stop doing the same thing five times... He had planned to do this... His address today was embarrassing and condemnable."
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018258662540931339
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the government, in a way, exposed itself by objecting to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the Lok Sabha. He said he had read the portion being referred to and argued that in a healthy democracy, the concern should not be whether the truth comes out, but what action follows once it does. Jha added that had Rahul Gandhi been allowed to speak, the issue would not have escalated into a major controversy.
BJP MP Shashank Mani criticised Rahul Gandhi for what he described as shifting explanations for his source, saying the LoP first cited a book, then said it was unpublished, and later referred to a magazine article. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi defied the Speaker’s ruling, leading to the adjournment of the House for an hour.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said it was unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak in the House. He alleged that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju repeatedly intervened, and questioned why an Army general’s words could not be quoted. Tagore claimed the functioning of Parliament was being “strangled”.
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde said the Opposition must understand that the House functions according to rules and laws. He accused Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly raising sensitive and unauthenticated issues in Parliament and alleged that it has become his habit to speak against the country.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut accused Rahul Gandhi of violating parliamentary rules and creating chaos in the House. She alleged that he quoted from an unpublished book of questionable authenticity and said the disruption lasted for nearly an hour.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said former Army chief General MM Naravane was “not a small man” and questioned why his words were not being allowed to be quoted in Parliament. He claimed the book was unpublished because it would not have been allowed to be published.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in his chamber at Parliament amid the Lok Sabha standoff. Congress MPs KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the meeting.
Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned till 3 pm amid continued disruptions during the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla raised an objection to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks and called Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav to speak next.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha that BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, during his speech, had not raised any questions about the Opposition’s character or patriotism.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that the Defence Minister, Home Minister, and the Prime Minister have raised questions about his party, its leaders, and their nationalism. He added that the article he was referring to was about the Prime Minister’s character and claimed it was neither related to China nor to the Prime Minister’s remarks in the House.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha that the House should also discuss what action should be taken against a member who does not obey the Speaker’s ruling, as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi continued to raise the unlisted issue of China and attempted to quote from a magazine article. Rijiju reiterated that the Speaker has ruled that articles from magazines or newspapers cannot be quoted in the House and that debates must be conducted strictly in accordance with parliamentary rules.
After the Speaker ruled against quoting from a magazine story citing unpublished work of former Army chief General MM Naravane (Retd), Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha, “What does it contain which is scaring them so much? If they are not scared, I should be allowed to read on,” while raising issues related to China.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Speaker has ruled that articles from magazines or newspapers cannot be quoted in the House, adding that debates must be conducted in accordance with parliamentary rules.
In the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav spoke in support of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying that the issue relating to China is sensitive and that the LoP should be allowed to speak in the House.
In the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should present before the House the book he is quoting from, stating that the book referred to has not been published.
During the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke in the House, prompting an objection from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who said quoting from a published magazine report is against parliamentary rules. Rahul Gandhi responded by stating that his source was authentic and that the remarks were based on unpublished memoirs of a former Army general.
Taking a swipe at the Opposition, Sonowal said India suffered from policy paralysis and corruption before 2014, but witnessed decisive leadership and rapid growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the country has moved from being among the “Fragile Five” economies to becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy. He added that the government’s guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas” is being implemented in practice, ensuring inclusive growth for Dalits, Adivasis, women, youth, farmers, and the poor.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the President’s Address reflects the Centre’s vision for social justice, inclusive growth, and the goal of building a “Viksit Bharat”. Initiating the discussion on the motion of thanks in the Lok Sabha, he described the address as all-inclusive and said it outlined an inspiring roadmap for the next 25 years of India’s journey. He added that the President’s Address marked a significant moment as it was delivered by the first Adivasi, the youngest, and the second woman President of India, calling it a reflection of a nation moving towards equity, inclusion, and social justice.
RJD MP Misa Bharti said the Opposition is raising several issues related to Bihar during the Budget Session, including the demand for special status for the state. She said there was “nothing for Bihar” in the Union Budget and added that concerns over law and order and the death of a NEET aspirant are also being flagged, with the Opposition seeking a response and action from the government.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address will span three days, with 18 hours allotted in total. He said the BJP is likely to have five to six speakers today, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply in the evening of February 4. Rijiju said the motion of thanks will be moved by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, after which Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak in the Lok Sabha.
Opposition MPs from Kerala staged a protest in Parliament against the Union Budget 2026, calling it an “anti-Kerala Budget”.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh gave a notice under Rule 267 in the House seeking a discussion on what he described as the destruction of heritage in the name of redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi.
Congress MP Hibi Eden moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha seeking an urgent discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala. He alleged that the exercise, if carried out in a hasty and non-transparent manner, could violate fundamental rights and impact the conduct of free and fair elections in the state, where polls are due in the coming months. Eden said the issue poses a serious challenge to democratic values and urged the House to take it up for detailed discussion.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha seeking discussion on references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an email linked to the recently released ‘Epstein Files’. The Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed the references as baseless and described them as “trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal”.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is among the Congress leaders expected to speak during the discussion on the motion of thanks, along with MPs Amarinder Raja Warring, Anto Antony, Tariq Anwar, and Jothimani.
Parliament has allotted 18 hours for the discussion on the President’s Address, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to reply on February 4. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to respond on February 11.
Both Houses of Parliament are set to discuss the motion of thanks on the President’s Address today. In the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will move the motion, while in the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP C Sadanandan Master will move the motion.
On Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha, her ninth consecutive Budget, outlining proposals including seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors, and the operationalisation of 20 national waterways over the next five years.
Opposition parties, at an all-party meeting held on January 27, had pressed for discussions on issues including the restoration of MGNREGA, the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls, and the UGC-related controversy.
The Budget Session will span 30 sittings over 65 days and conclude on April 2. Both Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to allow Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries.