Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm as Opposition sloganeering derails Question Hour
Synopsis
The Rajya Sabha saw its second adjournment of the day on 4 August as Opposition sloganeering over the Ram Temple donation issue drowned out both the Consumer Affairs Minister and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during Question Hour — a sign that parliamentary business remains hostage to a controversy the Chair has already ruled a state subject.
Key Takeaways
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on 4 August — the second adjournment of the day.
The Ram Temple donation issue triggered the morning disruption; Opposition protests resumed immediately when the House reassembled at noon.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi were both drowned out by sloganeering during Question Hour .
Radhakrishnan made repeated appeals for order, warning Opposition members to return to their seats before proceeding.
DMK member Tiruchi Siva argued that Rajya Sabha members represent their states, including Tamil Nadu , before the House was adjourned mid-argument.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday, 4 August after Opposition members continued their sloganeering through Question Hour, defying repeated appeals by Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to restore order. The disruption marked the second adjournment of the day in the Upper House, which had earlier been suspended till noon over protests linked to the Ram Temple donation issue.
How the Disruption Unfolded
When the House reassembled at noon, Opposition benches resumed their protest almost immediately, creating a noisy atmosphere that drowned out ministerial responses. Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, before replying to a question raised by Manoj Kumar Jha, publicly remarked on the conduct of Opposition members.
Chairman Radhakrishnan urged members to return to their seats on multiple occasions, assuring them that he would give them the floor once order was restored. His appeals went unheeded.
Ministers Drowned Out by Slogans
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also attempted to respond to a question from Ratanjeet Singh and supplementary queries from other members, but her replies were rendered inaudible amid the continuing din. The Chair, visibly displeased, told the Opposition benches: 'Why should I call you? All of you are shouting. Firstly, go back to your seats,' before pressing on with proceedings.
DMK's Tiruchi Siva Raises States' Rights Argument
As the session continued under strain, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) member Tiruchi Siva sought the floor to speak. Chairman Radhakrishnan asked him to first state the subject of his remarks. When it emerged the matter was related to the morning's dispute — classified as a state subject — the Chairman indicated he would not permit it, noting there was no representation of the concerned state government in the House.
Tiruchi Siva countered that the Rajya Sabha is the Council of States and that its members represent their respective states, including Tamil Nadu. Before he could complete his argument, the Chair adjourned the House till 2 pm.
A Stormy Day in the Upper House
The twin adjournments underscored a broader pattern of parliamentary disruption that has repeatedly stalled legislative business in the current session. The Ram Temple donation controversy, which triggered the morning walkout, continued to shadow proceedings even after the noon reassembly. This is not the first time the current session has seen Question Hour effectively wiped out by Opposition protests — a development that critics argue deprives citizens of accountability through parliamentary scrutiny.
With tensions showing no sign of easing, the afternoon session's conduct will be closely watched to assess whether the House can salvage any legislative business for the day.
Point of View
And its repeated erasure by Opposition sloganeering means citizens lose the one mechanism that compels ministers to answer on the record. The Chair's ruling that the Ram Temple donation matter is a state subject is constitutionally defensible, but it has not defused the political pressure, which suggests the Opposition is less interested in a ruling and more in the optics of protest. The pattern of using disruption as a political signal — rather than debate as a legislative tool — has become a feature, not a bug, of recent parliamentary sessions.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Rajya Sabha adjourned on 4 August?
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on 4 August because Opposition members continued sloganeering during Question Hour, making it impossible to conduct business. This was the second adjournment of the day; the first had occurred in the morning over protests related to the Ram Temple donation issue.
What was the Ram Temple donation issue that triggered the protests?
The Ram Temple donation controversy was the primary grievance cited by Opposition members during the morning session, prompting the first adjournment. The Chair subsequently ruled it a state subject, declining to allow further discussion on those grounds.
What did Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan say to the Opposition?
Chairman Radhakrishnan repeatedly urged Opposition members to return to their seats, assuring them he would allow them to speak once order was restored. He also said, 'Why should I call you? All of you are shouting. Firstly, go back to your seats,' before continuing with Question Hour.
Who were the ministers affected by the disruption?
Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman both attempted to respond to questions during the disrupted session, but their replies were drowned out by Opposition sloganeering.
What argument did DMK's Tiruchi Siva make before the adjournment?
Tiruchi Siva argued that the Rajya Sabha is the Council of States and that its members, including those from Tamil Nadu, have a right to raise state-related issues. The Chair adjourned the House before he could complete his argument.
