In a blistering attack, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the opposition’s ‘hooliganism’ that overshadowed President Droupadi Murmu’s address to both houses of Parliament. The disruption, he argued, shames India and guarantees the perpetrators a place in public disdain.
Media interactions post-speech revealed Rijiju’s unfiltered outrage. ‘Imagine the audacity—heckling during tributes to Vande Mataram’s 150 years and Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay,’ he fumed. Even as the President invoked Guru Teg Bahadur’s 350th sacrifice anniversary, calling for national unity and inspiration, opposition voices drowned her out with protests.
This wasn’t mere dissent; it was a blatant assault on parliamentary sanctity. Rijiju minced no words: ‘Politics allows disagreement, but not at the cost of national honor. No self-respecting MP behaves like this.’
He painted a broader picture, positioning the President’s address as a unifying national agenda rather than partisan rhetoric. ‘It’s the people’s mandate speaking,’ Rijiju stressed, appealing for opposition soul-searching to restore Parliament’s prestige.
The episode underscores deepening rifts in Indian politics. As MPs reconvene, the onus is on leaders to prioritize statesmanship over street-style theatrics. Failure to do so could alienate voters craving mature governance amid pressing national challenges.