Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a swipe at Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge amid loud sloganeering by Opposition members as he replied to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Upper House.
Responding to interruptions, the Prime Minister addressed the Chairperson CP Radhakrishnan and said, “My request is, looking at the age of Honorable Khargeji’s age, he can sloganeer while sitting also, so that he does not face any inconvenience, there are lots of young people behind. Please grant him permission to sloganeer while standing as well.”
The comment drew sharp reactions from the Opposition benches, where members continued to raise slogans during his address.
PM Modi began his speech by expressing gratitude for the President’s Address and asserted that the country was moving ahead on a fast development trajectory.
February 5, 2026 | As Opposition MPs create ruckus in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, "...Looking at the age of Kharge ji, I urge you, the Chairman, to let him sit and sloganeer so that he faces no discomfort. There are young people at the back. So, please permit Kharge ji to sloganeer even… pic.twitter.com/KftNfomdyh— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2026
“In the journey of Viksit Bharat, previous years have been the years of rapid development of the country. This has been the era of change in every walk of life, in every section of society. The country is going ahead in the right direction at a fast pace,” he said.
The proceedings were marked by repeated disruptions, with Opposition MPs shouting slogans such as “Tanaashahi nahi chalegi”, “LoP ko bolne do” and “can’t crush opposition voice” while the Prime Minister was speaking in the Rajya Sabha.
The Opposition MPs, included LoP Kharge, staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his reply on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address.
Opposition MPs walkout from Rajya Sabha as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues his reply on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. https://t.co/2nA2wZ6rBgpic.twitter.com/CouekWMU6B — ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2026
Tensions also spilled over from the Lok Sabha, which was adjourned till noon shortly after it assembled due to protests.
In the Upper House, a heated exchange took place between the treasury benches and the Opposition over claims that Rahul Gandhi had earlier not been allowed to speak.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the allegation, saying that Parliament functions according to established rules and “not anyone’s wishes”.
He maintained that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had been given around 40 minutes but had repeatedly spoken beyond the rules, and termed it incorrect to suggest that Rahul Gandhi was stopped from speaking.
BJP president JP Nadda also criticised the Opposition, stating that the Prime Minister was prepared to respond to issues raised in the Lok Sabha but the House was not allowed to function.
Amid the continued uproar, Opposition members staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha. Despite their exit, the House carried on with its scheduled business.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
