New Delhi, Feb 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday at 5 pm, a day after eight opposition MPs were suspended following repeated disruptions in the House.
The Lok Sabha witnessed chaotic scenes on Tuesday, with proceedings adjourned thrice amid sharp confrontations between the ruling BJP and opposition parties. The House was first adjourned shortly after convening at 11 am, again at noon, and later till 3 pm as uproar continued over the opposition’s insistence on quoting former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir.
The disruption began aftere Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi repeatedly raised the issue of India-China relations during the debate on the Motion of Thanks. Emphasising national security concerns, Gandhi flagged the implications of the China-US conflict for India’s global positioning and questioned the Prime Minister’s handling of the 2020 India-China border standoff. He also sought parliamentary authentication of an article related to the issue.
Gandhi’s remarks drew strong objections from BJP MPs, who accused him of misusing the platform and disrespecting the armed forces. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged members not to revisit settled matters, while the Chair reminded Gandhi to confine his remarks to the scope of the motion. However, continued references to General Naravane’s unpublished memoir triggered further uproar, with opposition MPs entering the well of the House and raising slogans, including “Surrender Modi.” BJP leaders condemned the protests as deliberate disruptions and a breach of parliamentary decorum.
The repeated adjournments underlined deep political divisions over national security narratives. Tensions were further heightened as the Congress demanded scrutiny of a recent India-US trade deal praised by the Prime Minister, questioning why its announcement was made by the US President and raising concerns over its implications for farmers, domestic industries, and India’s strategic autonomy.
Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal moved an adjournment motion seeking a detailed parliamentary debate on the trade agreement, particularly in the context of reports suggesting India’s consent to halt purchases of Russian oil.
With the Lok Sabha struggling to function amid escalating clashes, the developments reflect the growing friction between the government and the opposition over national security, trade policy, and India’s broader strategic direction.
In the Lok Sabha, the motion was moved by Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by Tejasvi Surya. The House has allotted 18 hours for the discussion, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to reply later today.
In the Rajya Sabha, the motion of thanks was moved by BJP MP Sadanand Master.
The motion follows President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on January 28, marking the start of the Budget Session.
According to the List of Business, MPs Jair Parkash and Balashowry Vallabhaneni are set to table reports of the Public Accounts Committee (2025–26). These include the Thirty-sixth Report on Punctuality and Travel Time in Train Operations in Indian Railways; the Thirty-seventh Report on Short Collection of Fees due to Incorrect Exchange Rate Application in the Overseas Citizenship of India Card Scheme and Irregularities in the Setting Up of Indian Cultural Centres in Washington and Paris; and the Thirty-eighth Report on action taken by the government on recommendations related to the Performance Audit of the Agriculture Crop Insurance Scheme.
UNI AAB