On February 5, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. The speech was marked by high drama, following a historic disruption in the Lok Sabha just 24 hours earlier.
Key Highlights of the Address
Prime Minister Modi’s speech centered on the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) while taking sharp swipes at the Opposition leadership.
- Viksit Bharat Journey: The PM emphasized that India is on an unstoppable path toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. He stated, “Now, we are not stopping, neither are we going to look back. We will only look forward.”
- Swipe at Mallikarjun Kharge: Amidst relentless sloganeering from the Opposition, the PM took a jab at the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), suggesting that given Kharge’s seniority and age, he should be allowed to sit while he raised his slogans.
- Youth and Development: He highlighted the role of India’s youth in driving the economy and cited the success of the ‘Make-in-India’ scheme in sectors like electronics, toys, and space missions.
The “Lok Sabha Clash” Controversy
The PM’s speech in the Upper House was particularly significant because his scheduled address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (Feb 4) was cancelled under unprecedented circumstances.
- Safety Concerns: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla revealed today that he had advised the PM to skip the Lower House address due to “concrete information” that Opposition members planned an “unexpected act” by rushing the PM’s chair.
- Women MPs’ Protest: On Wednesday, several women MPs from the Opposition had reportedly blocked the treasury benches and gheraoed the PM’s seat with banners, leading to an abrupt adjournment.
- Priyanka Gandhi’s Response: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi dismissed the Speaker’s safety concerns as an “absolute lie,” arguing that the PM was simply “hiding behind the Speaker” to avoid facing questions on national security and the General Naravane memoir controversy.
Context of the Session
The Budget Session has been paralyzed by a standoff over several key issues:
- General Naravane’s Memoir: Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on quoting from the former Army Chief’s unpublished book regarding the 2020 India-China standoff.
- India-US Trade Deal: Opposition demands for more transparency on the recent tariff cuts and energy commitments made to the Trump administration.
- Lakshmi Bhandar Hike: In state-level news mentioned during the session, the West Bengal government announced an additional ₹500 monthly hike for women beneficiaries starting February 2026.
