February 06, 2023 10:55 am | Updated 03:18 pm IST
Leaders of 16 Opposition parties met in LoP Mallikarjun Kharge’s chambers to chalk out a joint strategy on the Adani-Hindenburg issue on February 6, 2023. (Photo: RV Moorthy/The Hindu)
Both Houses of Parliament failed to transact any significant business for a third working day in a row on Monday as adjournments marred the proceedings.
Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were disrupted within minutes of the commencement and adjourned till 2 p.m. as an unrelenting Opposition sought a discussion and demanded an inquiry into allegations of financial instability against the Adani Group made by Hindenburg Research. The Rajya Sabha proceedings met the same fate after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar once again refused to allow the Opposition notices under Rule 267 to discuss the Adani issue. MPs then resorted to protesting in the Parliament complex.
Both Houses were adjourned for the day as they resumed amid loud sloganeering at 2 p.m.
The Budget Session commenced on January 31 and will continue till April 6 with 27 sittings spread over 66 days with the usual recess. On February 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023-24.
Chair Dr. Kirit Solanki adjourned the Lower House proceedings till 11 a.m. on Tuesday as Opposition members continued raising slogans over the Adani issue. Before this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi requested sloganeering Opposition MPs to take their seats and begin the discussion of thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s speech on the first day of the Budget session.
Proceedings have resumed in the Lower House. As members lay papers on the table corresponding to the list of the day’s business, Opposition parliamentarians are raising slogans demanding an enquiry by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the Adani Group issue.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day over Opposition’s motion to discuss Adani “stock scam”. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the inability to take up listed business by the House. Monday’s list of business included a discussion on the motion to thank President Droupadi Murmu for her address to the joint session of Parliament.
The House will reconvene on February 7 at 11 a.m.
The Opposition parties have alleged that the meltdown in Adani Group shares is a scam that involves common people’s money, as public sector LIC and SBI have invested in them. Read more
The House is not being allowed to run and this is an outrage of rules and expectations, says Chairman Dhankhar.
Opposition members are seeking a discussion on the Hindenburg Report and Adani stock rout, but the same has been repeatedly disallowed so far.
“I have repeatedly indicated the stand, and that is carefully thought out,” Mr. Dhankhar says, justifying his decision. “The entire nation is looking at us,” he adds, to which Opposition members respond, “Absolutely, yes.”
Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lower House following slogannering and protests by Opposition members as they persisted with their demand for a disccusion and inquiry into the Adani issue.
Earlier in the day, a united Opposition decided to corner the government on the Adani issue in Parliament. Sources told news agency ANI that leaders of 16 parties decided to ask for an adjournment motion in both Houses and insist on a discussion on the Adani issue. Leaders from the Congress, DMK, NCP, BRS, JD(U), SP, CPM, CPI, Kerala Cong (Jose Mani), JMM, RLD, RSP, AAP, IUML, RJD and Shiv Sena held a meeting in LoP Mallikarjun Kharge’s chambers on Monday morning.
As the proceedings resumed in the Lok Sabha on Monday morning, Opposition members resorted to sloganeering against the Centre, demanding the Speaker to allow a discussion on the Adani row.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar pays respect to former member of the House Abdul Samad Siddiqui, who died in November 2022. Parliamentarians join in and observe a minute of silence.
Proceedings begin with members laying papers on the Table.
Several members of opposition parties staged a protest on Monday at the Gandhi statue in Parliament to raise their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or Supreme Court-monitored probe into the Adani case.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday gave an Adjournment Motion notice in the Lok Sabha to have a detailed discussion on the border situation with China.
In his notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary General, Manish Tewari urged the House to suspend Zero hour and other businesses of the day for having a detailed discussion on the border situation with China.
“Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Till 16 January 2023, seventeen rounds of Commander level talks have taken place between India and China with little success. All the while China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops. China is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo,” Mr. Tewari said in the notice.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday moved a motion of adjournment of the business in Lok Sabha to discuss the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group.“I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely:-It is a great blow to the public money followed manipulative attitude of the Adani Groups which has been brought to light by the Hindenburg research report,” Manickam Tagore wrote to Lok Sabha Secretary General.
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
COMMents
SHARE