Parliament Day 8 highlights: Special session concludes with PM Modi’s reply to Motion of Thanks to President in Rajya Sabha

The House was adjourned sine die after a Motion of Thanks on the President’s address was adopted. 

“Seasoned members conducted them irresponsibly. Disruption erodes prestige of this esteemed institution. Even LoP walked into well of the House and that was a disgrace to Parliamentary conduct. Their walk out was extremely painful. It has set a dangerous precedent,” Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said before adjourning the House. 

On the Opposition staging a walk out from the House, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the LoP demanded time to interject but the Rajya Sabha Chairman denied it. 

“He forgot that when LoP was speaking in the Lok Sabha, the PM, Home Minister and others interjected unconstitutionally. We walked out to keep the dignity of the House,” says the MP.

Here’s what NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Opposition walkout: 

The PM said violent incidents have reduced in Manipur, and added that government is making constant efforts to restore peace in the State.

“Stop politicising Manipur issue, one day Manipur will reject you,” he told the Opposition.

PM Narendra Modi assured the House that the government is taking serious action against those behind the NEET paper leak. The guilty will not be spared, the PM said as he slammed the Opposition for politicising the issue.

Speaking on Motion of Thanks, PM Modi says, “If the 2024 election was to save the Constitution, then the people of the nation chose us for it… 1977 election saved the Constitution…” People knew only we can safeguard the Constitution, Mr. Modi says.

“The Opposition’s selective attitude on atrocities against women is worrying. I have seen a video from Bengal on social media where a woman is being beaten. Videos are being shot but no one intervenes. The incident which happened in Sandeshkhali... even senior leaders (Opposition) did not say a word about it,” the PM says.

After Opposition MPs walked out of the House during PM’s reply to debate on Motion of Thanks to President’s address, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “Today, they did not leave the House behind, they have left behind dignity. Today, they did not show me their back, they showed it to the Constitution of India. They did not insult me or you, they insulted the oath of the Constitution that they took. There can be no bigger insult to the Constitution of India than this.”

“I don’t understand the reason behind their happiness? Are they happy for a hat-trick of loss? Is it because they become the target of nervous ‘90s? Are they happy because of another unsuccessful launch?” the PM says. 

Here’s what Congress MP Rajeev Shukla told news agency PTI on Opposition walkout.

The government has strengthened agriculture sector with micro planning ranging from farm to market, says PM Modi. He claims that three crore farmers were beneficiaries of UPA’s loan waiver, while NDA’s PM-Kisan scheme benefited over 10 crore.

As members of the Opposition walked out during PM Modi’s reply on Motion of Thanks to President’s address, he said, “They are insulting the Upper House and its glorious traditions.”

Opposition members raise slogans, demanding the Chairman to allow LoP Mallikarjun Kharge to speak. The PM is replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on President’s address. 

“I have to go by the rules,” Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar says, as PM Modi continues reply to debate on Motion of Thanks.

The country is watching, the PM responds. “They can’t hear truth, that’s why they are running away,” he says. 

Opposition benches protest as PM Narendra Modi attributes NDA’s victory to people’s trust. The LoP attempts to intervene, but is not given an opportunity by the Chair to speak. 

“We feel proud of the wisdom and intelligence of the people of this country, in these elections. They defeated propaganda. They prioritised performance. They rejected the politics of deceit and put stamp of victory on the politics of trust,” Mr. Modi says.

The PM adds that when India becomes third largest economy, it will have a positive impact not only domestically but also at global level.

“Our Constitution works as a light house, gives us directions,” says PM Modi in Rajya Sabha.

Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, PM Narendra Modi said, “In the last two-two and a half days, around 70 MPs participated in this discussion. I express gratitude to all of you MPs in enriching this discussion on the President’s address.”

“The President’s address had inspiration and encouragement for the people of the country, and also awarded the path of the truth,” says PM Modi.

He thanks the people of India for choosing his government for the third time. “People have given their support to work done by BJP-led NDA govt in last 10 years,” the PM adds. “This opportunity given to us for the third time by the people of the country is to realise ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” he says. 

“I want to thank a few friends of the Congress. They were repeatedly saying one-third government. What can be a bigger truth than this that we have completed 10 years and 20 is remaining... one-third,” says PM Modi.

The Prime Minister will speak in the Rajya Sabha at around 12 noon. He will take part in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, tweets PMO.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhhar offers condolences on the loss of lives in the stampede in Uttar Pradesh Hathras.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge calls on the government to enact legislation aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. The Chairman asks leader of the House to work together with LoP so that such events can be avoided. 

The senior Congress leader and former Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president passed away on June 29, 2024, following a heart attack.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar kickstarts proceedings of the day with birthday greetings to MPs Dr. K Lakshman and Harbhajan Singh.

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List of Business in the Rajya Sabha: 

1. Birthday greetings
2. Obituary reference
3. Papers to be laid on the table
4. Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said 140 crore Indians conveyed the same message to him, as the phrase he used for the Congress, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Hitting back at tumse na ho payega [you are not up to it] jibe of Mr. Modi at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, Mr. Kharge said: “The way you mentioned ‘Tumse Na Ho Payega’ in your speech of two hours and twenty-four minutes, 140 crore Indians have said the same thing to your government in this election. The farmers who provide food to us voted against your false promises of ‘doubling their income’ and said ‘Tumse na ho payega’”. 

Mr. Kharge added that crores of youths who are still wandering pillar to post in search of jobs after Mr. Modi’s promise of providing two crore jobs every year have also said tumse na ho payega as have the Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and minorities who voted against the BJP.