Kharge said ‘democracy is not safe’, to which Nadda replied ‘it’s a normal situation’ NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a sharp exchange between Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the House J.P. Nadda over the police action against students during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, with the Congress alleging an assault on democracy and the BJP defending the crackdown as a routine law-and-order response.Raising the issue in the House, Kharge said, “Democracy is not safe. People are not safe,” and urged the government to take action against those who entered the protest site without authorisation. “Those who went there without authorization should be punished by the government,” he said.The remarks came amid a continuing political row over the police action during the student-led march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, organised to protest alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The march was denied permission by Delhi Police and clashes broke out after protesters attempted to breach barricades.Addressing that incident, responding to the Opposition, Nadda defended the police action, saying it was a standard law-and-order measure.”It was a very normal law and order situation that we have to understand. Police acted to maintain the order,” he said, accusing the Opposition of trying to “sensationalise and politicise a law and order activity by the police.”Nadda also said that “any student who is into activism will have to face such a situation,” adding that protests cannot be allowed to override law and order.Drawing a parallel with the Emergency, the Union minister recalled his own experience as a student activist.”I have been a student activist and I was arrested several times from the classroom during the Emergency under Congress rule,” he said, arguing that student activism has historically involved such consequences.The Opposition has repeatedly demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the police action, while the government has maintained that the force acted within the law to prevent an unauthorised march towards Parliament.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Police Denies ‘Mystery Truck’ Conspiracy Linked To Chalo Sansad ProtestTwo Army Personnel Injured In Suspected Landmine Explosion Near LoC In Uri’Most Filthy Type Of Man’: Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Attack Pralhad Joshi; Massive Ruckus In ParlWhy Delhi-NCR Flooded Again As Four Weather Systems Combined With Years Of Planning Failures’Students Want Justice, Not Charity’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Explosive Speech On Paper Leaks Rocks LSMizoram Minister Opens Up On Drug Menace, Myanmar Border, Disaster Readiness & Ties With Centre”You Removed One Pradhan To Save The PM”: Paper Leak Bill Triggers Massive Showdown In ParliamentPolice Diary Reportedly Reveals RAF Fired Anti-Riot Guns During Jantar Mantar Protest | WatchOnce A Fierce BJP Critic, Ex-TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh To Defend Centre’s Anti-paper Leak Bill | WatchModi Govt Tables Anti-Paper Leak Bill In Lok Sabha: Up To 10 Years Jail, ₹10 Cr Fine & More123PhotostoriesFrom alleging ex-wife Shweta Tiwari’s affair with her Kasautii co-star Cezanne Khan to claiming he Wasn’t allowed to meet their daughter; Raja Chaudhary makes serious allegationsLeftover rotis? Try these 9 desi lunch dishes that pack 14–22g proteinHow to grow and care for lucky bamboo: An easy step-by-step guide for beginnersIrina Shayk dating history: Inside the Russian supermodel’s high-profile romances; from Bradley Cooper to Cristiano RonaldoFrom Mirabai Chanu to Harjinder Kaur: 10 women who are making India proud at the Commonwealth Games 2026Did you know this was the world’s first favourite flavour? Here’s how it became so popularWhy your child refuses to go to school: 10 common reasons behind it and what parents can doFrom ocean giants to tiny insects: The 5 loudest animals on earthYour heart ages every day; these 7 lifestyle changes can help keep it younger for longer5 nutritionally superior green leafy ‘saag’ you can grow in pots in your balcony123Hot PicksMCC new rulesRey mysterios daughterDelhi Lakshmi YojanaTN CM Vijay’s new officeRussian sanctions bille20 PetrolRajasthan Safai Karamchari recruitmentTN supplementary resultsTN SSLC, HSE supplementary resultsTop TrendingKangana RanautJantar Mantar ProtestKarnataka SuicideBJP MLA Yashpal Suvarna ArrestGurgaon Road RageAbhijeet Dipke Marriage ProposalsUGC PG ProgrammeWeather TomorrowPalani Mutt Temple Land CaseRakhi Sawant
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a sharp exchange between Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the House J.P. Nadda over the police action against students during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, with the Congress alleging an assault on democracy and the BJP defending the crackdown as a routine law-and-order response.Raising the issue in the House, Kharge said, “Democracy is not safe. People are not safe,” and urged the government to take action against those who entered the protest site without authorisation. “Those who went there without authorization should be punished by the government,” he said.The remarks came amid a continuing political row over the police action during the student-led march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, organised to protest alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The march was denied permission by Delhi Police and clashes broke out after protesters attempted to breach barricades.Addressing that incident, responding to the Opposition, Nadda defended the police action, saying it was a standard law-and-order measure.“It was a very normal law and order situation that we have to understand. Police acted to maintain the order,” he said, accusing the Opposition of trying to “sensationalise and politicise a law and order activity by the police.”Nadda also said that “any student who is into activism will have to face such a situation,” adding that protests cannot be allowed to override law and order.Drawing a parallel with the Emergency, the Union minister recalled his own experience as a student activist.“I have been a student activist and I was arrested several times from the classroom during the Emergency under Congress rule,” he said, arguing that student activism has historically involved such consequences.The Opposition has repeatedly demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the police action, while the government has maintained that the force acted within the law to prevent an unauthorised march towards Parliament.
