Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Tuesday strongly objected to the deployment of security personnel inside the Upper House, calling it “most objectionable and undemocratic,” as Opposition members continued their protests in Parliament.
In a letter to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Kharge expressed shock over the presence of security officials entering the well of the House during ongoing demonstrations by Opposition MPs.
“We are astonished and shocked at the manner in which CISF personnel were made to run into the well of the House while members were exercising their democratic right to protest,” Kharge wrote, adding, “This is most objectionable, and we strongly condemn it.”
The Opposition has been staging protests over multiple issues, and Kharge reiterated that such demonstrations are part of a legitimate democratic process. He recalled how former Opposition leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj had previously defended parliamentary disruptions as a sign of democratic vibrancy.
“This is not a huge thing. We are protesting in a democratic way, and we will continue to do so. That is our right,” he asserted.
In response, Deputy Chairman Harivansh denied Kharge’s claim that CISF personnel were deployed inside the House, clarifying that the officials involved belonged to the Parliament Security Service (PSS), not the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
“No CISF personnel were involved. Only Parliament Security Service personnel are permitted to enter the House when needed,” he said.
Kharge, however, remained firm in his stance, stating, “I condemn this. You can throw us out of the proceedings.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Kharge of misleading the House and demanded a clarification over the public release of his letter to the Deputy Chairman.
The situation escalated when Kharge questioned the authority managing the House, asking, “Who is running this House? You (Chair) or Union Home Minister Amit Shah?”
The Deputy Chairman dismissed the allegation as “wrong” and called upon Leader of the House JP Nadda to respond.
The standoff reflects the rising tensions between the ruling and Opposition benches as confrontations in the well of the Rajya Sabha grow more frequent amid ongoing protests.
