'Tell the truth': RS Chairman intervenes as Kharge claims Opposition does not want to obstruct Parliament

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan. (PTI via Sansad TV)

• Rajya Sabha Chair refutes Kharge's claim that Opposition didn't disrupt House
• Kharge raised issue of Rahul Gandhi not allowed to speak in Lok Sabha
• Opposition walked out after objections to Kharge's and Nadda's remarks.

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Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday countered Leader of Opposition in the Upper House and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge when the latter claimed that the Opposition benches do not intend to the functioning of the House.

The remarks came when Kharge, during his address in the Rajya Sabha, raised the issue of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi "not being allowed to speak" in the Lower House, a reference to the logjam in the Lower House over the Lok Sabha LoP's insistence on quoting excerpts for an unpublished book authored by former Army chief MM Naravane.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju argued that the proceedings of one House cannot be discussed in the other and also cited past rulings by the Rajya Sabha Chairman, and urged the Opposition members to allow the Rajya Sabha to function.

Responding to the minister, Kharge said that it was never the intention of the Opposition to disrupt proceedings in the House. "Sir, we (Opposition) do not want to disturb the House," Kharge said, drawing an immediate counter from Radhakrishnan.

"You tell the truth! You are saying something contrary to the truth. I allowed you to speak immediately after being asked. All your people are coming and shouting. Is this democracy?" the Chairman said contradicting Kharge's claims.

Kharge, however, argued that the Lok Sabha had been unable to function for four days since the Leader of Opposition was not being allowed to speak.

"You say that matters of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed here. But we say that both Houses together make the Parliament and form its pillars. You cannot paralyse one pillar only to hide your failures and the deceit of the government," Kharge said.

While Kharge was making his remarks, Opposition members converged in the Well of the House and began to raise slogans and create a ruckus.

Opposition members also took strong exception when Leader of the House JP Nadda targeted the Congress and claimed the party was being held hostage by an "immature child (abodh baalak)".

Opposition members eventually walked out of the House following Radhakrishnan's objection to Kharge's attempt to refer to the same book that led to the showdown in the Lok Sabha on Monday.