NEW DELHI: The winter session of Parliament started with a major uproar as the government and the opposition sparred over former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden exit, deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR and the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several states.After Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s address before the beginning of the session, Lok Sabha saw repeated disruptions, with the ruling party accusing opposition MPs of not letting the House function. Between 11 am to 2 pm, the House saw 3 total adjournments, while legislative business of just around 50 minutes took place. The opposition MPs also staged a walk out in Rajya Sabha while demanding a debate on SIR. Here’s what happened in Parliament on Day 1:Prime Minister’s jibe on oppositionBefore the proceedings began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sharp jibe at the opposition for the recent performance in the Bihar assembly election and cautioned them against turning Parliament into a battleground for frustration or a stage for theatrics.While addressing the media ahead of the session, PM Modi said, “For some time now, our Parliament is being used either as a warm-up arena for elections or as an outlet for frustration after defeat.”“I would request that everyone thinks about the issues at hand. There is a lot of place for doing drama, whoever wants to do drama can do it. Yaha drama nahi, delivery honi chahiye,” he added.PM Modi also said that the game the opposition has been playing for the last 10 years is no longer acceptable to the people.“They should change their strategy — I am ready to give them a few tips,” he said.He urged all parties to recognise the purpose of Parliament and “come out of the frustration of defeat.”‘Drama is not allowing a discussion’Responding to remarks, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that urgent matters such as pollution and the SIR exercise are crucial for democracy and must be discussed openly in Parliament.Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Urgent issues like pollution, the SIR process, and other matters are extremely important for democracy. Whether it is the election situation or the SIR, these are major issues. What is Parliament for if not to discuss them? Let the government allow a discussion. Speaking about issues or raising questions is not drama.”Taking a sharp dig at the government, she added, “Drama is not allowing a discussion. Drama is avoiding democratic debate on issues that matter to the public. We spoke about pollution — why should that not be raised? Today I requested time during Zero Hour. Why are we not being allowed to discuss it?”She also slammed PM Modi’s “enjoy the weather” remark, and wondered whether the he was aware of what was happening in Delhi and around the country.“The prime minister is saying, ‘enjoy the weather’. What weather should the people of Delhi enjoy? At least take a peek outside to see what is happening in the country,” Priyanka told reporters when asked about PM Modi’s remarks.New VP welcomedPM Modi also praised the newly appointed Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, expressing confidence that under his leadership, Rajya Sabha members would uphold the dignity and prestige of the House while contributing to the nation’s progress.“His journey inspires all who seek to serve society,” PM Modi said.“From his youth to today, he has remained committed to serving society. His journey from an ordinary family to this position inspires all who wish to contribute to public life,” he noted.Recalling his tenure in various constitutional roles, Modi said, “Whether as Governor in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, or Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, he built close connections with local communities. In Jharkhand, he regularly visited villages and engaged with tribal communities, often ignoring protocol and logistics to ensure outreach.”Uproar over Dhankhar’s ‘sudden exit’Meanwhile, while welcoming the new Chairman, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, mentioned the “unexpected and sudden exit” of his predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar, triggering sharp reactions from the treasury benches.“It was a completely unexpected and sudden exit from the office of chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which is unexpected in the annals of parliamentary history. I was disheartened that this House did not get an opportunity to give him a farewell,” he said, triggering an uproar from the treasury benches.The statement attracted a sharp reaction from parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, slamming Kharge for mentioning Dhankhar’s resignation on the “solemn occasion”.“This is a very solemn occasion… The Prime Minister has made very dignified remarks as part of the felicitation event. Why did the honourable Leader of opposition refer to a case which was not necessary to be raised at this moment…” Rijiju said.“The language you used for the former Chairman, the way you insulted him, the motion you served — we still have that copy,” he added.Leader of the House JP Nadda also intervened, urging members to maintain the dignity of the occasion. He also referred to the loss faced by the opposition alliance, including Congress, in the recent Bihar assembly polls.“This programme is a pious occasion. We should maintain the dignity of the occasion. The issue that the leader of the opposition has raised — if we start discussing this, it is irrelevant… We will also have to mention that you brought a no-confidence motion against him twice. It is an obstacle in a good and congenial environment debate which is going on,” Nadda said.“Talking about what the Prime Minister said outside… The loss of Bihar and Haryana must have given you a lot of pain… But you should express your pain and suffering to a doctor. You should speak to a doctor when the time comes…” he added.‘Vote chor, gaddi chhod’Within 15 minutes of the legislative business, the opposition MPs disrupted proceedings in Lok Sabha by sloganeering against “electoral fraud”. The opposition MPs also demanded a discussion on the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls across 9 states and 3 Union Territories.This led the sitting Speaker Sandhya Rai to adjourn the proceedings, criticising the opposition for not allowing the House to function.“I request everyone to stay at their seats. Everyone wants to talk about their issues. Do you not want the House to function?” Rai asked the opposition MPs amid repeated sloganeering of “vote chor, gaddi chhod”.Opposition stages walkoutMeanwhile, Rijiju asserted in the Rajya Sabha that the government is not averse to holding a discussion on SIR or electoral reforms, as he asked the opposition not to insist on setting a timeline.He was responding to opposition members who were demanding an immediate discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls or electoral reforms in the House.Not satisfied with the minister’s response, members of several opposition parties staged a walkout from the Upper House.Responding to the opposition parties’ demand to start an immediate discussion on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls or electoral reforms, the minister sought more time to respond to the matter.“Nobody is undermining any matter which was brought out by the opposition party yesterday in the all-party meeting or Business Advisory Committee (BAC) today. What I am saying is, it is under the consideration of the government,” Rijiju said.“If you put a condition that it has to be taken up today itself, then it becomes difficult, because you have to give certain space,” he added.The minister informed that certain opposition parties raised matters other than the SIR and stressed the need to protect their rights as well.“However, I am saying again, the matter related to whatever you call it — special intensive revision or electoral reforms or whatever — I have stated before the beginning of the winter session that the government is not averse to taking up discussion on anything,” Rijiju said.MP brings stray do inside Parliament complexCongress MP Renuka Chaudhary stirred a row after she brought a stray dog to Parliament grounds on the first day of the Winter Session, disregarding protests from fellow MPs, while asserting that the “real dogs are sitting in Parliament” who regularly bite people.However Chaudhary claimed that she discovered the puppy en route to Parliament that morning. After witnessing a collision between a scooter and car, she noticed the puppy near the roadside. Concerned for its safety, she transported it in her vehicle. The animal remained within the car and departed when the vehicle left after dropping her off.“Is there any law? I was on my way. A scooter collided with a car. This little puppy was wandering on the road. I thought it would get hit by the wheel. So I picked it up, put it in the car, came to Parliament, and sent it back. The car left, and so did the dog. So what’s the point of this discussion?” Chaudhary explained to ANI.Further justifying herself and taking jab at the government she added that the “real dogs are sitting in Parliament.“