Kharge Questions CISF Presence in Rajya Sabha, Sparks Uproar and Adjournment
News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 6th August 2025
A major controversy broke out in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised strong objections to the alleged deployment of CISF personnel inside the House, questioning whether the proceedings were being managed by Deputy Chairman Harivansh or by Home Minister Amit Shah.
Kharge referred to a letter he had submitted on August 1, expressing alarm over security officials obstructing Opposition MPs from entering the Well of the House during protests. Claiming the presence of CISF officers was unprecedented and undemocratic, Kharge asked, “Are we terrorists?” and insisted that the matter be addressed urgently. The letter was later leaked to the media, prompting Deputy Chairman Harivansh to accuse Kharge of violating the confidentiality of communication with the Chair.
In response, Harivansh firmly denied any CISF deployment, clarifying that only Parliament Security Service marshals, as per long-standing practice, were present to maintain order. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also refuted Kharge’s claims, accusing him of misleading the House and questioning the rationale behind making the complaint public before receiving a formal reply.
Kharge, however, stood by his concerns, stating that disruption is a legitimate form of democratic expression and questioning whether parliamentary operations were being influenced externally. His comments drew a sharp response from Leader of the House J.P. Nadda, who criticized the Opposition’s conduct, asserting that such behaviour undermined parliamentary decorum. He offered to guide the Opposition on maintaining constructive debate within legislative boundaries.
Amid continued protests by Opposition members and support from DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, who questioned the replacement of traditional marshals, the House witnessed repeated disruptions. Ultimately, the session was adjourned until 2 p.m., leaving the issue unresolved and tensions high within the Upper House.
