Both Houses of Parliament witnessed intense debates on Tuesday as the Opposition and the government clashed over several contentious issues, including the possible delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP), and concerns over duplication of voter ID numbers. Heated exchanges between members led to disruptions, with opposition leaders demanding discussions on these matters.
In the Rajya Sabha, proceedings were adjourned for about 40 minutes after opposition MPs sought to suspend the day’s business under Rule 267 to debate these pressing concerns. However, their notices were rejected by Deputy Chairperson Harivansh. Despite this, DMK MP R Girirajan raised the issue of delimitation during Zero Hour, highlighting the potential impact on states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Punjab. He argued that these states, which successfully implemented family planning measures, could lose parliamentary representation due to the population-based constituency redistribution exercise originally scheduled for 2026.
Girirajan demanded that the 1971 census be used as the basis for redrawing constituencies, calling the current approach fundamentally unfair to progressive southern states. “Delimitation disproportionately penalizes states like Tamil Nadu while rewarding those that failed to control their population over the last three decades,” he asserted.
A separate controversy erupted in the Upper House over remarks made by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, which were perceived as disrespectful by the Chair. Kharge’s comments came as opposition members pressed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to apologize for his previous remarks against the Tamil Nadu government. Facing protests from BJP members who deemed his language “unparliamentary,” Kharge clarified his statement, offering an apology to the Deputy Chairperson but refusing to extend it to the government.
Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took aim at the DMK amid the ongoing language row, accusing the party of hypocrisy. She referenced a figure, widely believed to be Periyar, suggesting that DMK leaders idolized a person who had spoken “disparagingly” about Tamil. “If you read his statements, anyone with basic knowledge of Tamil will know who I’m referring to. While this person spoke horribly about Tamil, there was no objection. Instead, he is kept as a Dravidian icon,” she said.
Further tensions flared after BJP MP Sambit Patra made remarks against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. During a debate on the supplementary demands for grants and the Manipur budget, Patra referenced a Congress leader’s comment about Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness. Drawing a controversial comparison between Sharma and Gandhi, Patra’s remarks sparked outrage among Congress members. Following Speaker Om Birla’s intervention urging decorum, Patra withdrew his comments.
As parliamentary sessions continue, these debates underscore the deep political divide between the ruling and opposition parties. The discussions on delimitation, language policy, and voter ID concerns are likely to remain key flashpoints in the coming days, further intensifying the political landscape in the country.
