A Motion of Thanks on the President’s address was adopted by the Lok Sabha on Thursday, without the customary speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the opposition continued protests for the fourth
day during this budget session.
The development is unprecedented, but not the first, as in 2004, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was prevented from replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address by the BJP.
Earlier today, PM Modi was not present in the Lok Sabha when the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to both Houses of Parliament on January 28 was passed.
Amid sloganeering by the opposition members, the Speaker then adjourned the proceedings till 2:00 PM.
Some opposition MPs stormed the Well, carrying posters with PM Modi’s picture and ‘Narendra-Surrender’ slogan written at the top.
Samajwadi Party members too were in the Well, carrying three banners and pamphlets raising the issue of demolitions at the Manikarnika ghat on the river Ganga in Varanasi. The SP banners carried pictures of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, who had developed the ghats nearly 300 years ago.
Trinamool Congress members were also in the Well joining the protest, while other members of the INDIA bloc, including the DMK and the Left, stood at their seats and in the aisle in solidarity.
‘Unprecedented Development’
Former Lok Sabha secretary general P D T Achary termed the passage of the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address without the customary reply by the prime minister as an “unprecedented development”.
Achary said that in 2004, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh was present in the House, but did not make a speech as per an understanding reached with the then opposition BJP.
“Speaker, sir, I learn that there is an understanding among political parties on both sides that the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address be put to vote straightaway and passed unanimously. Therefore, sir, I request you to put the motion to vote,” Manmohan Singh had said on June 10, 2004.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a video on X of Singh’s address from March 10, 2005. Manmohan Singh was heard saying that he had to wait the entire year to thank the President for the address.
This is the video of Dr Manmohan Singh’s speech on March 10 2005 – where he refers to the fact that he was prevented from replying to the Motion of Thanks on June 10, 2004 https://t.co/RyDSwhkMzG pic.twitter.com/uJNfgne78Z
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 5, 2026
Govt Vs Oppn: All About Parliament Stand-Off
The stand-off in this budget session between the government and the opposition started after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was stopped from speaking on the 2020 India-China border clash in Galwan Valley, while he was referring to a memoir of then Army chief MM Naravane from his book “Four Stars of Destiny”.
The government has said that Rahul Gandhi cannot quote from an unpublished book. Speaker Birla had also given a ruling in the matter, prohibiting MPs from quoting books during their speeches.
