On Thursday, Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day, with the House barely working for five minutes before adjourning for the day. Members of the Treasury and Opposition screamed slogans at each other, stormed the House well, and caused a commotion, bringing up the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi’s democratic remark.
Shortly after proceedings began, the House was recessed until 2 p.m. There was an uproar as BJP MPs demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his remarks about democracy being under threat in India, Congress-led Opposition MPs demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group, and TMC MPs protested not being allowed to speak inside the House by covering their mouths with black cloths.
The BJP was determined to escalate its attack on Gandhi, who arrived in the national capital on Wednesday following a trip to London, and party MPs rose up soon after the House met, pressing their demand for an apology. Gandhi, however, was not present in the House.
Meanwhile, MPs from the Congress, DMK, Left, NCP, and BRS went to the well, chanting chants in support of a JPC. TMC MPs, who had been protesting outside the Speaker’s chamber even before the Lok Sabha met, joined in.
Speaker Om Birla asked members on both sides to take a seat, but when they did not, he adjourned the House till 2 p.m. “I want to be Speaker of the House. I’ll give everyone a chance to talk. Yet, the House must be in order. You are unable to visit the well. I’ve always given everyone enough time and space to talk. Discussions cannot be held from the House well. “Just go take your seat, and I’ll give everyone an opportunity to speak,” said the Speaker.
He also attempted to address both chambers. “You (treasury) sit as well. I’ll give you (Opposition) the chance. You don’t want the House to function? You don’t want to have a Budget debate? You don’t want to have a dialogue during Question Period? You simply wish to engage in sloganeering. Is this a positive development? “I would instruct them (the Treasury) to take their seats, and you (the Opposition) will take yours,” Birla remarked.
“You debate outside, but in the House, you storm the well and yell slogans. This is incorrect. Parliament has some dignity, which must be preserved. “The House is adjourned till 2 p.m.,” the Speaker said to the opposition.
The commotion resumed in the afternoon, when the House reconvened at 2 p.m. The chair, Kirit Solanki, asked members if they wanted the House to run or not. He adjourned the Parliament for the day when members did not pay attention.
The second part of the Budget session, which began on Monday, has been filled with raucous scenes, with neither side showing any signs of relenting. According to insiders, the BJP would continue its onslaught against Rahul Gandhi for the remainder of the week.
