New Delhi, Feb. 14 -- Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday demanded restoration of a "substantial portion" of his February 4 speech during the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, drawing sharp reaction from Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who said the chair's decision cannot be questioned. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Kharge said parts of his speech, criticising certain policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were either expunged or removed without proper justification. Pointing out that it was a violation of the freedom of expression guaranteed to Members of Parliament under Article 105(1) of the Constitution, he said Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan should consider restoring the expunged portions as what he had said was not unparliamentary. Kharge said the verbatim text of his speech shows a "substantial portion" has either been expunged or removed without any proper justification. "...I respectfully submit that the portions removed from my speech contain nothing unparliamentary or defamatory, nor do they violate Rule 261 in any manner.If I do not receive justice, I will be compelled to share the unrecorded version with the public..." he said. Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, however, said it was not improper for a member to make public what has been expunged. The FM then took to the Floor and read out the rules about expungement of speech. Quoting Rule 261 on proceedings of the council, she said the Chairman has the discretion to expunge remarks and words. Criticising Kharge, she said to suggest that the speech was expunged to protect the PM, is not appropriate for the position of the LoP....