When Chairman C P Radhakrishnan skipped the question and moved to the next, Congress’s Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh and others sought to know why the question was withdrawn.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Opposition parties led by the Congress on Wednesday (December 10) staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha after a BJP MP withdrew, without explanation, a question he had posed to Home Minister Amit Shah on enhancing forensic capabilities in the country in view of the new criminal laws.
BJP MP Aditya Prasad had put a question to the Home Minister asking “whether the government is expanding Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) to collect evidence as mandated under the new criminal laws, if so, the details thereof.” He also wanted to know of “the measures taken to enhance forensic capabilities under the Nirbhaya Fund in light of the new criminal laws; and the steps being taken to systematically store and manage forensic data electronically as mandated under the new criminal laws.”
It was listed as a Starred Question, which requires ministers to give an oral answer and allows for supplementary questions. When Chairman C P Radhakrishnan skipped the question and moved to the next, Congress’s Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh and others sought to know why the question was withdrawn.
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“You know the rules. Rule 253 permits a member to withdraw any question as he likes,” the chairman said. “You can also withdraw if you want. I cannot interfere in the rights of the members.” As opposition MPs pressed, Mr. Radhakrishnan told them that they have “no right to raise it.”
He asked them not to disturb the Question Hour and went ahead with the listed questions. Unhappy with the response, the Opposition MPs staged a walkout in the House.
Published – December 10, 2025 04:28 pm IST
