Opposition protests absence of Ministers in Rajya Sabha, leads to adjournment

Rajya Sabha proceedings connected Friday (December 12, 2025) were adjourned for 10 minutes aft the Opposition objected to the lack of Cabinet Ministers during the proceedings, which they said was an “insult” to the House.

Soon aft the House paid tributes to those who had mislaid their lives during the December 13, 2001 violent onslaught connected Parliament, the Opposition MPs pointed retired that nary of the Cabinet Ministers were contiguous successful the House.

Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan said helium volition instrumentality it up with the authorities and asked a inferior Minister to petition the beingness of a Cabinet Minister successful the House. “I recognize the procedure. I person requested the Minister. One of the Cabinet Ministers should come,” helium said.

Opposition MPs, however, were not satisfied. They insisted that House proceedings beryllium adjourned till a Cabinet Minister was present. “This is an insult to the House. You person to adjourn the House till the Cabinet Minister comes,” Congress person Jairam Ramesh said.

After waiting for astir 5 minutes, Mr. Radhakrishnan adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes.

When the House reassembled aft the little adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed regret for the lack of Ministers from the House. Besides Mr. Rijiju and Leader of the House J.P. Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was among the Ministers contiguous erstwhile members reassembled. Mr. Rijiju said helium had to beryllium successful the Lok Sabha to mourn the decease of erstwhile Speaker and erstwhile Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Mr. Nadda said helium had questions marked successful his sanction successful the Lower House, and truthful helium excessively was away. “I regret that a Cabinet Minister was not there,” helium added. The Opposition pointed retired that Patil was besides a erstwhile subordinate of the Rajya Sabha, and the House should mourn his decease arsenic well.  

Later, conscionable minutes earlier noon, the House paid tributes to the erstwhile Union Home Minister, who was a subordinate of the Upper House from 2004 to 2010. Mr. Radhakrishnan said the state had mislaid a respected parliamentarian and an capable administrator. He besides described the erstwhile Home Minister arsenic a “dignified and soft-spoken statesman” who was wide respected for his heavy knowing of parliamentary procedure.  “The state has mislaid an experienced statesman, an capable head and a respected parliamentarian. We profoundly mourn the passing distant of Shri Shivraj Patilji,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said. Members observed soundlessness for 2 minutes arsenic a people of respect to the representation of the departed leader.