Lok Sabha Drama: Stand-off Over Rahul Gandhi's Speech

The Lok Sabha faced a turbulent session on Monday as tensions flared between the government and opposition. At the heart of the stand-off was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's insistence on speaking before the debate on the Union Budget, causing several adjournments and disrupting proceedings throughout the day.

When the House reconvened after prior disruptions, Shashi Tharoor, tasked with initiating the budget debate, deferred to Gandhi, creating a stalemate. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju disputed any agreement allowing Gandhi to speak first, while Congress members accused the chair of backtracking on a prior understanding.

The disruptions continued, rooted in a previous controversy where Gandhi was prevented from citing a contentious article. The ongoing clash resulted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi being unable to address the House amidst ongoing opposition protests, further compounding tensions in the parliamentary session.