'Is Amit Shah running the house?': Pandemonium grips Rajya Sabha over alleged deployment of CISF personnel
PTC News Desk: An unprecedented chaos broke out in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday over the alleged presence of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel inside the House.
The session was marked by high-decibel protests, intense face-offs and heated political exchanges.
The ruling NDA maintained that only Marshals were deployed, but the Opposition, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, strongly objected, calling it an “affront to democracy”.
The pandemonium began when Deputy Chairman Harivansh criticised the Opposition for releasing a letter written by Kharge to the media. “Such communication between constitutional functionaries must remain confidential,” he said, as he began addressing the House.
He also criticised the opposition for repeated disruptions and misuse of Rule 267, saying, “Members are casually invoking Rule 267, and when their notices are not admitted, they choose disruption over discussion.”
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of deploying paramilitary forces to smother democratic protest. “If CISF or any paramilitary force has been called inside the House to silence our voice, it is highly objectionable and violates the core values of democracy,” he said. “We are protesting democratically. That is our right,” Kharge asserted.
While refering to former Leaders of Opposition Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, he said that even they defended the disruption and described them as democratic expression.
“When Jaitley ji and Sushma ji were LoPs, they clearly said that disturbing the House is also part of democracy,” he said.
Rebutting Kharge's remarks, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused him of “misleading” the House and denied presence of any CISF personnel.
“Only Marshals were inside the House. There was no deployment of armed forces. Mr. Kharge should clarify why his letter was leaked to the press instead of awaiting a formal response,” Rijiju said.
- PTC NEWS
