CISF in well, claims Kharge, Rijiju says House being misled | India News
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha Tuesday saw a sharp exchange between LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and deputy chairman Harivansh over Kharge’s allegation that CISF personnel had entered the well of the House last week during opposition protests. Kharge said the move violated members’ “democratic right of protest”, but the Chair and treasury benches rejected the claim, asserting that only Parliament’s own marshals were present.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the marshals belong to Parliament’s “watch and ward” staff and accused Kharge of “misleading the House” through a letter to the Chair. “It is on record only marshals were there that day… When the LoP writes a false letter and presents false facts, what action should be taken?” he asked.The Upper House later passed by voice vote a resolution to extend President’s Rule in Manipur by six months beyond Aug 13.Lok Sabha was adjourned amid opposition protests seeking discussion on EC’s SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and other issues. In RS, Harivansh cited Kharge’s Aug 1 letter, which said CISF personnel were “made to run into the well” during protests. He clarified that since 1930, only Parliament’s own security staff have been deployed to safeguard members. “Dissent is a democratic right, but it must be from one’s seat, not well or another’s,” he said.Quoting past precedents, Harivansh said similar conduct was called “contempt”, “disgusting” and “deplorable” in 1978, 1988 and 2008. Disruptions this session have already cost over 41 hours, he added.BJP chief JP Nadda praised the ruling as “historic” & a “reference point”, accusing the opposition of lacking “the capacity to hear the truth”. According to sources, CISF personnel entered only after authorisation and served under House secretariats as marshals.
