New Delhi: Proceedings in the Lok Sabha descended into chaos on Wednesday, forcing the deferral of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, after sustained protests by Opposition members, including a gherao by women MPs.
The disruption began while BJP MP P P Chaudhary was speaking, when Opposition women members led by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad entered the Well of the House and marched towards the Treasury benches, holding placards and raising slogans. The protest was aimed at the India–US trade deal and the controversy surrounding references to an unpublished book by former Army chief M M Naravane. The Prime Minister was not present in the House at the time.
The House had already seen repeated interruptions earlier in the day over Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on citing the unpublished memoir, a move objected to by senior ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah.
When proceedings resumed in the afternoon, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey triggered fresh uproar by referring to various books and making remarks targeting former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. TDP MP Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the Chair, disallowed the remarks citing Rule 349, which bars members from reading or quoting books unrelated to House business.
The remarks sparked angry scenes, with Opposition MPs charging towards Dubey and demanding his suspension, leading to another adjournment. The House had already been adjourned thrice earlier in the day.
When the Lok Sabha reconvened at 5 pm—when Modi’s reply was expected—women MPs again protested and marched towards the Prime Minister’s chair. BJP MP Sandhya Rai, presiding at the time, adjourned the House for the day.
Analysis: The repeated disruptions underline how national security and foreign policy debates are increasingly paralysing parliamentary business. With the Prime Minister’s reply deferred, the episode highlights the widening trust deficit between the government and Opposition, raising concerns over Parliament’s ability to function amid escalating political confrontations. This assessment reflects analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original content.
