Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha

The Opposition staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha on Monday (February 9, 2026), protesting developments in the Lok Sabha where Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi could not finish his speech during a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, sought to raise the issue at the start of the day’s proceedings. He also referred to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressing the press on the interim India-U.S. trade deal instead of making a statement in Parliament. Mr. Kharge attempted to raise the matter again at noon, at the beginning of the Question Hour. Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan allowed Mr. Kharge to speak but cautioned him against referring to proceedings in the other House.

“I am only raising issues concerning the Constitution. Parliament consists of our House and Lok Sabha… and the Constitution recognises these two Houses. We have to run according to procedures and rules,” Mr. Kharge said, before adding that the Leader of Opposition in the Lower House was “not being allowed to speak”.

Mr. Radhakrishnan, however, interjected, reminding Mr. Kharge of his earlier ruling, where he had cited former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s suggestion that proceedings of one House should not be discussed in the other House. He then proceeded with the Question Hour. 

However, Mr. Kharge and other Opposition leaders continued to stand in their seats, demanding to be allowed to speak. As the Chairman did not relent, Opposition MPs raised slogans, accusing the ruling BJP of insulting women MPs. MPs of all the INDIA bloc parties, except the Trinamool Congress, were on their feet.

After raising slogans for a while, the Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the House, and the Question Hour continued.

The Lok Sabha has witnessed repeated disruptions since February 3 after Mr. Gandhi was disallowed by the Chair from quoting from an article based on excerpts from former Army chief M. M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir, which refers to the India-China conflict of 2020. Eight Opposition MPs have since been suspended from the House.

Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed away from proceedings amid allegations that some women MPs could have attacked him.

On February 5, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he had “concrete information” that many Congress members might move towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seat and carry out “some unexpected act”, following which he requested the Prime Minister not to come to the House to reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.