March 16, 2023 10:44 am | Updated March 17, 2023 10:28 am IST
Opposition MPs protesting in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, March 16. | Photo Credit: PTI
Once again on Thursday, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day amid loud sloganeering by the BJP and Opposition members. Both the Houses did not even function for a whole minute after resuming proceedings at 2 pm. So far, the second part of the session has failed to transact any major legislative business due to repeated disruptions. While the Congress has accused the Modi government of not allowing the Opposition to raise its demand for a JPC into the Adani issue, the ruling party has been demanding an apology from Mr. Gandhi over his recent comments about Indian democracy in London.
The second leg of the Budget Session resumed on Monday after a month-long recess to review the budget papers.
Chair Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the proceedings before 2:01 p.m. his repeatedly requests to sloganeering members to get back to their seats went unheeded.
The House resumed proceedings amid loud protests and sloganeering, following which the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has arrived in the Parliament. “If they allow me to speak in Parliament, then I will say what I think,” says Rahul Gandhi, adding it will not be to the BJP’s liking when he speaks.
Proceedings in both Houses will resume shortly.
Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan gave a suspension of business notice, demanding a discussion on the Adani issue.
Filing the notice under Rule 267, Ms. Ranjan said, “Government has failed in constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the serious charges of corporate fraud, political corruption, stock market manipulation and financial mismanagement against the Adani group”.
Another Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain gave a 267 notice on the “worrying trend of declining freedom of speech and expression in the country”. - ANI
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourns the House till 2 p.m. amid the commotion. TMC MPs wore black masks to the House protesting against alleged censorship blaming the treasury benches for stalling the house.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha have begun amid chants of members demanding an apology from Congress Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi for his comments in London.
Members of the Opposition stormed into the well of the Lower House with placards. The Speaker urged them not to disrupt proceedings, but as protests and sloganeering continued, the House was yet again adjourned within minutes of commencement.
Speaker Om Birla begins the proceedings of the day with an appeal to members to ensure that the House is in order. “I will allow you to raise issues, but go back to your seats and maintain decorum of the House,” Mr. Birla tells protesting MPs.
PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with ministers Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, Anurag Thakur, Kiren Rijiu and Pralhad Joshi in Parliament today morning.
Meanwhile, leaders from several Opposition parties met at the office of LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
(Photo Credit:Special Arrangement)
News agency ANI has reported that Congress’s Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend Parliament and address media regarding the row over his remarks made in the U.K, which have become a bone of contention between the ruling party and the Opposition.
Over the past few days, the BJP has stepped up attack on Rahul Gandhi, while the Opposition has accused the government of “undermining and weakening” democracy by stalling Parliament.
On Wedensday, the Congress-led Opposition took out a protest march from Parliament House to hand over a complaint to the Enforcement Directorate on the Adani issue. They were, however, stopped by the Delhi Police at Vijay Chowk.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the police did not allow the opposition MPs to march in protest and present their case for a detailed investigation into the issue.
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