Lok Sabha was adjourned for the fifth consecutive day on Friday, just 21 minutes into the proceedings, to reconvene on Monday, March 20, as the treasury benches continued to chant slogans against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in London, while opposition members demanded that the Congress MP be allowed to speak.
Rahul, who told the media on Thursday that he hoped Speaker Om Birla would allow him to speak in the House, was present in the Lok Sabha alongside former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as BJP MPs chanted slogans demanding his apology.
Soon after the proceedings began, opposition MPs marched into the Well with placards seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani Group’s activities. At the same time, Congress members began shouting, “Rahulji ko bolne do” (Let Rahul Gandhi speak).
But the ruling BJP did not back down, with members standing on their feet and yelling, “Rahul Gandhi maafi mango (Rahul Gandhi apologise).” Union ministers attending included Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, S Jaishankar, Jitendra Singh, Kiren Rjiju, Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, and Arjun Munda.
While the commotion continued, Birla made little interventions. The proceedings of the House were likewise muted on Sansad TV. After 11.18 pm, the Speaker finally broke his quiet, saying, “I implore you to let the House function. You were not sent to shout slogans. The country’s citizens are watching. If the House comes to order, I will let everyone speak.”
He adjourned the meeting three minutes later, saying it would resume on Monday. So far, the second half of the Budget session, which began on March 13, has been a washout, with daily disruptions impeding House operations.
Upper House ‘works’ for 3 minutes in two halves, adjourned
On Thursday, Rahul met Birla and reiterated his position that as an elected MP he reserves the “right to speak”, particularly because “four ministers” have made allegations against him over the last few days.
“If the Indian democracy was operating I would be allowed to say my piece in parliament. So what you are witnessing is a test of Indian democracy. After four BJP leaders make an allegation regarding a Member of Parliament, will that Member of Parliament be given the same room as those four ministers, or will he be instructed to shut up? That is the actual question that this country is facing right now,” Rahul subsequently told reporters.
The Lok Sabha
Rahul Gandhi
