During the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha saw a mix of pointed interventions on pressing national issues and dramatic moments highlighting personal and political narratives.
Members raised concerns over the widening "digital divide" and rising cybersecurity threats. Dr V. Sivadasan, CPI(M) MP from Kerala, highlighted the persistent national digital divide that excludes large sections of the population from essential services. He pointed out that many educational institutions, especially in rural and underserved areas, still lack adequate digital infrastructure, depriving students of online learning tools. Thousands of workers under MGNREGA, he noted, are unable to register or access entitlements due to a lack of digital facilities, smartphones, or basic digital literacy. Sivadasan warned that ongoing electoral processes, like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, could disenfranchise vulnerable voters who lack digital access.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Babubhai Jesangbhai Desai from Gujarat raised alarms over escalating cybersecurity threats, emphasising vulnerabilities in critical sectors such as banking, government databases, and infrastructure. He called for stronger safeguards, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and proactive measures to protect citizens and institutions amid India's rapid digital transformation. These discussions reflected growing anxieties over equitable access to technology in a digital economy and the need to protect against cyber risks.
The House also witnessed high drama when nominated member and BJP leader C. Sadanandan Master, a Kerala-based former teacher who lost both legs in a politically motivated attack in 1994, moved the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu's address. Master placed his prosthetic limbs on the table to recall the brutal attack, accusing CPI(M) of hypocrisy: "Those who are roaring about democracy in Parliament committed an attack on me 31 years ago." He recounted how a gang of assailants ambushed him, severed his legs below the knees, and shouted slogans during the assault.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas raised a point of order objecting to the display of prosthetics, citing House rules. The Chair acknowledged the concern but noted that similar strictness should be applied when placards are displayed. Despite the uproar, Master praised the vision of "Amrit Kaal" and "Viksit Bharat," highlighting President Murmu's emphasis on "nari shakti" and the graduation of the first batch of women cadets from the NDA as a symbol of women leading national development. He urged unity: "Let us not oppose for the sake of opposition; let us take a unified stance on issues of national interest."
The motion was seconded by BJP MP Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni. The debate on the Motion of Thanks, allotted 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha, continues amid the charged atmosphere of the Budget Session.
(With inputs from IANS)
