05 August,2026 02:17 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. File pic
The Rajya Sabha witnessed noisy scenes on Wednesday as Opposition members continued their protests, prompting Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to issue a stern warning against entering the Well of the House or displaying placards during proceedings.
When the House reconvened after a brief adjournment, the Chairman appealed to members to maintain decorum and cooperate with the Chair so that parliamentary business could continue smoothly.
Addressing members at the outset, Radhakrishnan reminded them that parliamentary rules do not permit members to enter the Well of the House or use placards while protesting. He cautioned that any member violating these rules could face action and may not be allowed to participate in the proceedings.
"My request to all the members is that you should cooperate with the Chair and never try to enter the Well of the House and never try to show the placards. These two things you have to follow. If any member is not following these two instructions, I will not be able to give them a chance to speak, and I will be forced to take action," the Chairman said.
Despite his appeal, Opposition members continued raising slogans demanding the presence of the Union Home Minister in the House.
Amid the protests, the Chairman allowed Question Hour to proceed.
During the session, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari responded to members' queries related to National Highway projects and road safety.
Nominated Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty highlighted the increasing number of road accidents across the country and stressed that reckless driving, rather than road infrastructure alone, was responsible for many fatalities.
She sought details about the government's efforts to strengthen the process of issuing driving licences and improve driver training so that accidents on highways could be reduced.
Replying to the questions amid continued sloganeering, Gadkari said that human behaviour remained one of the biggest factors contributing to road accidents.
He said the government has been implementing several initiatives to improve driver training, promote responsible driving habits and strengthen road safety awareness across the country.
The minister added that improving driving standards and ensuring stricter compliance with traffic rules remain key priorities in reducing accidents on national highways.
As Opposition members continued raising slogans despite repeated appeals from the Chair, the Chairman conducted a few more questions before adjourning the Rajya Sabha till 2 pm.
The proceedings reflected the continuing standoff between the treasury and Opposition benches, with repeated disruptions affecting the functioning of the Upper House even as scheduled business briefly continued during Question Hour.
(With inputs from IANS)
