'Designated As Marshals': Parliament Sources As Kharge Questions Security Presence In House

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 12:58 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the presence of CISF personnel in the Rajya Sabha during Opposition protests, calling it "undemocratic."

LoP in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speaks during a debate in the House (Photo: PTI)

Sources with the Parliament security on Tuesday said personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were designated as marshals for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers, clarifying that they were not deployed to obstruct the House members.

“CISF personnel have been designated as marshals for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers. They were not in the House to obstruct any MP, but to carry out duties assigned to them," sources said.

“Previous Parliament security was a separate cadre, but now, the CISF has taken over all duties from the periphery security," they added.

This came after Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Tuesday, condemned the presence of security personnel inside the House, with the Opposition protesting the same as “most objectionable and undemocratic".

In a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Kharge had expressed shock over the manner in which the CISF personnel entered the Parliament during opposition protests.

“I want to thank you, sir, for the references you gave us, the ones we didn’t read, but you told us," Kharge’s letter mentioned.

“I’m writing to you on behalf of the opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha. We are astonished and shocked at the manner in which CISF personnel were made to run into the well of the House while members were exercising their democratic right to protest," the letter mentioned.

“We saw this yesterday, and we saw it again today. Has our Parliament been reduced to such a level?" the LoP asked.

“This is most objectionable, and we strongly condemn it. We expect that in the future, CISF personnel will not come trooping into the well of the House when members are raising important issues of public concern," he added.

Kharge further cited remarks by late leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, when they served as Leaders of the Opposition, recalling that they had defended disruptions as part of a vibrant “democratic process".

“We are protesting in a democratic way, and we will continue to do so. That is our right," Kharge asserted.

Responding to the allegations, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh refuted Kharge’s claims, stating that the personnel deployed were not from the CISF but from the Parliament Security Service (PSS).

“I want to clarify that only the Parliament Security Service can enter the House when needed. No CISF personnel were involved," the Deputy Chairman said in the House.

Undeterred, Kharge stood by his remarks and said, “I condemn this. You can throw us out of the proceedings."

KHARGE ASKS IF HOUSE IS BEING RUN BY AMIT SHAH

As the debate progressed, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Kharge of “misleading" the House and asked for a clarification from the Congress leader regarding his letter to the Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

Following the accusation, Kharge asked whether the Chairman or Union Home Minister Amit Shah was running the House.

“Even our previous leaders have maintained that disruptions are also a part of democracy. But I ask you today (Chair), who is running this House? You, or Union Home Minister Amit Shah?" Kharge asked.

The standoff comes amid heightened opposition protests over various issues, with the well of the House increasingly becoming a flashpoint for confrontation.

Arunima

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...Read More

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...

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August 05, 2025, 12:55 IST

News india 'Designated As Marshals': Parliament Sources As Kharge Questions Security Presence In House

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