The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address without Prime Minister Narendra Modi replying to the debate, as sustained protests by opposition parties disrupted proceedings over their demand to allow Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak.
The motion was adopted by voice vote despite opposition members continuing to raise slogans, accusing the government of “stifling parliamentary democracy” by denying Rahul Gandhi his right to speak during the President’s address debate. Opposition MPs from the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties repeatedly crowded the Well of the House and vociferously protested, alleging that repeated adjournments and disruptions were being used to prevent Rahul Gandhi from continuing his speech.
Several opposition leaders described the situation as unprecedented, stating it was rare for the Motion of Thanks to be passed without the Prime Minister’s customary reply. Congress leaders termed the refusal to let Rahul Gandhi speak a “serious violation of parliamentary convention” and accused the government of deliberately avoiding addressing critical opposition issues.
“This is not just about one leader speaking; it is about the voice of the opposition being systematically silenced,” said a senior Congress MP outside Parliament.
On the other hand, members of the ruling treasury benches defended their position, arguing that the persistent disruptions left no room for orderly debate and that parliamentary business could not be held hostage by continuous protests. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of creating chaos and wasting valuable House time, asserting, “The government was ready for discussion but could not function amid constant disorder.”
Despite the uproar, Speaker Om Birla proceeded with the voice vote, passing the motion and effectively concluding the debate on the President’s address. It is now expected that Prime Minister Modi will respond to the debate in the Rajya Sabha later Thursday at around 5 PM.
The Motion of Thanks to the President’s address is a key constitutional exercise that allows members of both Houses to discuss the government’s policies and programmes outlined by the President at the start of a new parliamentary session. Traditionally, the debate culminates with a detailed reply from the Prime Minister, addressing points raised by the opposition and reaffirming the government’s agenda.
The ongoing stalemate has raised concerns about parliamentary functioning, with opposition parties warning that such tactics could set a troubling precedent for democratic debate in the House and undermine the spirit of parliamentary democracy.