Fireworks continued on Thursday as both Houses of Parliament reconvened for the ongoing Budget Session. While the Lok Sabha today adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, the debate on the same is underway in the Rajya Sabha, and the PM’s reply is scheduled for 5 pm.
Did Congress MPs plan to attack PM Modi in Parliament?
Details have started to trickle in on why PM Modi did not reply to the debate on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha. Sources said, according to news agency ANI, that the Congress was physically planning to attack PM Modi in the Lower House yesterday. Women MPs belonging to the Congress party were sent as a cover measure for this, sources said further, adding that the Lok Sabha Speaker decided to adjourn the House despite the Prime Minister being in Parliament and available to address the Lok Sabha.
No PM reply in Lok Sabha, House adopts Motion of Thanks
In an unprecedented development, the Lok Sabha on Thursday adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address with a voice vote without Prime Minister Narendra Modi replying to the debate. The PM was due to speak in the Lok Sabha but could not deliver his address amid repeated Opposition protests. Last evening also, the PM could not reply to the debate due to the ruckus created by the Opposition.
The Lok Sabha earlier reconvened at 11 am but was immediately adjourned as opposition MPs continued to protest over various issues. The Lower House later resumed proceedings at 12 noon and was again adjourned till 2 pm after adopting the motion amid sloganeering by Opposition members.
PM reply on Motion of Thanks in RS at 5 pm
It has been reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha around 5 pm today.
Abodh balak jibe and a fiery exchange
In the Rajya Sabha, a fiery exchange of words took place between the Treasury and Opposition benches.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised the issue of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak in the Lower House. When he was asked not to raise the matter of the other House, Kharge said he had the right to do so. “Parliament means Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The LoP, Lok Sabha, wanted to speak on the country’s interests, but was not allowed to speak. How can you run the House like this?”
Union Minister JP Nadda countered Kharge and argued that the LoP should know that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Nadda also advised Kharge to not let an abodh balak (ignorant child) hold the Congress party and Parliament hostage, apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also said, “Today, we all are expecting that all MPs will follow rules and traditions of the House. All MPs are waiting to hear the PM’s speech today. If Congress doesn’t want to listen to the PM’s address, but all other members do. Your LoP Lok Sabha doesn’t follow the House rules.”
When Nadda said PM Modi is ready anytime to answer any question in the Lok Sabha, Kharge responded and said the BJP doesn’t let people talk and has even shackled the PM. Calling members of the ruling party as “bound labourers,” Kharge said the Opposition doesn’t “lynch or abuse” others like the BJP does.
To this reference, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman objected and said that while she respects the Opposition, she wants the word “lynching” to be removed from Kharge’s speech.
What happened in Parliament yesterday
The discussion could not be completed on Wednesday as continuous protests by Opposition members forced multiple adjournments in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled reply to the debate was deferred as a result.
The Lok Sabha was first adjourned soon after it met, following slogans and protests by Opposition MPs over the suspension of eight members. The Speaker attempted to restore order several times, but the disruptions continued through the day.
A brief Question Hour was conducted for five minutes. Only one starred question and its supplementaries were taken up. Soon after, the House was adjourned again — first till noon, then 2 pm, and finally till 5 pm. With the uproar continuing, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
The standoff began when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to refer to an article citing an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane on the 2020 India-China standoff. The protests intensified after eight Opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session on Tuesday.
Those suspended include Congress MPs Manickam Tagore, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Hibi Eden, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose, along with CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan.
India-US trade deal adds to Opposition push for adjournment motion
The fresh round of disruptions comes as the Opposition sharpens its attack on the recently announced India-US trade agreement.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day, seeking a discussion on the deal. He urged the House to suspend Question Hour, Zero Hour and all listed business to take up what he described as an urgent matter of grave public importance.
In his notice, Tewari referred to a statement reportedly issued by the President of the United States claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil, increase oil imports from the United States and Venezuela, reduce Indian tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero, and commit to procuring over $500 billion worth of American goods.
Why Wednesday’s debate broke down, and what lies ahead
Outside Parliament, the suspended MPs staged a protest, holding placards accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “compromised.” The remarks echoed Rahul Gandhi’s earlier comments during media interactions on the India-US trade agreement.
Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria defended Gandhi, saying he represented “the voice of the people who voted against the BJP.” He accused the ruling party of attempting to silence the Opposition whenever national security issues are raised in Parliament.
In the Lok Sabha, the Motion of Thanks was moved by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. Eighteen hours have been allotted for the discussion.
According to the List of Business, the House is also scheduled to take up discussions on the Union Budget 2026–27. BJP MP Suresh Gopi is expected to make a statement on the implementation of recommendations of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas related to crude oil import policy.
The Budget Session will run for 65 days, with 30 sittings, and conclude on April 2. Parliament will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9, allowing Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries.