Nadda slams Opposition walkout during Jaishankar’s statement

Union Minister JP Nadda on Monday accused the Opposition of indulging in petty politics and creating anarchy after the Congress and other Opposition parties sought to disrupt Rajya Sabha proceedings and staged a walkout when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a suo motu statement on the situation in West Asia.

Soon after, the House met for the day, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan read out the obituary references and allowed the laying of listed papers. He then asked Jaishankar to make the statement on West Asia. However, Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge opposed this and demanded that there should be a full-fledged discussion on the situation in West Asia before such a statement is made by the minister.

After being permitted by the Chair, Kharge said the escalation in the West Asia conflict will affect the country’s economic stability and endanger the security and livelihood of Indian citizens working there. “I request a short-duration discussion on emerging challenges for energy security and the fast-changing geopolitical situation in West Asia affecting India’s energy security,” Kharge said. The Chairman told Kharge he would come back to him, and again asked Jaishankar to continue with his statement.

As the minister started making the statement, MPs belonging to the Congress and other Opposition parties were on their feet and insisted that Kharge be allowed to complete his remarks.

They also raised slogans and demanded that a short discussion be allowed to which the minister should reply. Later, the entire Opposition staged a walkout from the House while the minister was making his statement. After Jaishankar’s statement, Leader of the House JP Nadda termed the Opposition’s behaviour as “irresponsible” and said they only want to create “anarchy and hooliganism”.

“It is with great regret that I must say that the opposition’s behaviour is highly irresponsible and reprehensible. They have absolutely no interest in the country or in debates in Parliament. Their sole aim is to create chaos. In Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition is giving speeches on issues other than the main topic,” Nadda said.

The minister reminded the House that Opposition parties staged walkouts during Government replies on important discussions like SIR, Viksit Bharat, Operation Sindoor, the Waqf Bill, as well as on the Union Budget.

“The Opposition’s interest lies in advancing their petty politics, but under the respected leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this will never be possible. They will keep diminishing while sitting in the Opposition and eventually come to an end,” Nadda said.