Both Houses of Parliament worked together for 345 seconds on March 16, 2023, with the ruling BJP demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition refusing to back down on calls for a joint parliamentary probe into Adani . group dispute.
Whereas Mr. Gandhi’s remarks that democracy is under attack has made BJP’s furyThe opposition parties are determined to break the silence of the government on the Adani issue. To take forward their point, many MPs of the opposition formed a human chain in the Parliament premises.
The Lok Sabha functioned for two minutes 20 seconds in the pre-lunch sitting and 50 seconds in the post-lunch sitting. The Rajya Sabha functioned for one minute 55 seconds in the morning and 40 seconds in the afternoon.
Uproar started in the Lok Sabha as soon as the proceedings of the House started. MPs from both sides tried to shout at each other. Accusing the ruling party of stalling the Parliament for four consecutive days, Trinamool Congress MPs were already present in the well wearing black cloth on their faces.
Asking the protesting MPs to return to their seats, Speaker Om Birla said: “I want to run the House, I want to give you enough opportunity and time to speak. You have to go to your seats. You come to the well and then go out and say that you do not get a chance to speak. This is not right.”
The House was adjourned till 2 pm even without procedural tasks such as the introduction of papers and standing committee reports. The seating after lunch was even shorter.
In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool MPs chanted black slurs at the Well and other opposition members rose from their seats raising slogans.
The plea of Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to maintain the system went in vain. In the afternoon, a similar challenge came in front of Deputy Chairman Harivansh. Even before the Upper House met at 2 pm, Trinamool MPs formed a circle around the House table. Watch and ward personnel were deployed near the outpost. Shri Harivansh adjourned the House for the day without taking any action.
Meanwhile, at 12:30 pm in the Parliament complex, opposition leaders formed a human chain questioning the silence of the government on the study on alleged stock manipulation by the Adani group. All major opposition parties including Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) were represented, except Trinamool Congress, which did not participate in the protest. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Indian Union Muslim League and Bharat Rashtra Samithi.
The decision to form a human chain demanding a JPC probe was taken at a joint meeting of opposition leaders called by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday morning. Talking to reporters during the protest, Mr Kharge said, “Our demand from day one is that there should be an inquiry by a Joint Parliamentary Committee but the government is shying away from it. We do not understand why they are afraid of forming the JPC when they have the majority?”
Among the major opposition parties, the Trinamool Congress is the only one not to support the demand for a JPC probe. Demanding a debate specifically on the risk faced by SBI and LIC funds due to investments in the Adani group, the party believes that a Supreme Court-monitored probe – which is already underway – would be more effective.
At a press conference later in the day, Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said the Congress party needed to make up its mind. “In Tripura, you will be friends with the Left, it is your choice, in Bengal you will fight us with your life… Then in Meghalaya, before elections, how bad will you write on Trinamool. Your friends will become your enemies in Kerala, Meghalaya and West Bengal.” The Trinamool also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of turning Parliament into a “deep dark chamber”. “They don’t want Parliament to run because they don’t want to be accountable to the people,” Mr O’Brien said.
Fight over Rahul Gandhi, Gautam Adani stalled the House for the fourth day
Opposition MPs protest by forming a human chain in the Parliament House complex on March 16, 2023. , Photo Credit: PTI
Both Houses of Parliament worked together for 345 seconds on March 16, 2023, with the ruling BJP demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition refusing to back down on calls for a joint parliamentary probe into Adani . group dispute.
Whereas Mr. Gandhi’s remarks that democracy is under attack has made BJP’s furyThe opposition parties are determined to break the silence of the government on the Adani issue. To take forward their point, many MPs of the opposition formed a human chain in the Parliament premises.
The Lok Sabha functioned for two minutes 20 seconds in the pre-lunch sitting and 50 seconds in the post-lunch sitting. The Rajya Sabha functioned for one minute 55 seconds in the morning and 40 seconds in the afternoon.
Uproar started in the Lok Sabha as soon as the proceedings of the House started. MPs from both sides tried to shout at each other. Accusing the ruling party of stalling the Parliament for four consecutive days, Trinamool Congress MPs were already present in the well wearing black cloth on their faces.
Asking the protesting MPs to return to their seats, Speaker Om Birla said: “I want to run the House, I want to give you enough opportunity and time to speak. You have to go to your seats. You come to the well and then go out and say that you do not get a chance to speak. This is not right.”
The House was adjourned till 2 pm even without procedural tasks such as the introduction of papers and standing committee reports. The seating after lunch was even shorter.
In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool MPs chanted black slurs at the Well and other opposition members rose from their seats raising slogans.
The plea of Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to maintain the system went in vain. In the afternoon, a similar challenge came in front of Deputy Chairman Harivansh. Even before the Upper House met at 2 pm, Trinamool MPs formed a circle around the House table. Watch and ward personnel were deployed near the outpost. Shri Harivansh adjourned the House for the day without taking any action.
Meanwhile, at 12:30 pm in the Parliament complex, opposition leaders formed a human chain questioning the silence of the government on the study on alleged stock manipulation by the Adani group. All major opposition parties including Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) were represented, except Trinamool Congress, which did not participate in the protest. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Indian Union Muslim League and Bharat Rashtra Samithi.
The decision to form a human chain demanding a JPC probe was taken at a joint meeting of opposition leaders called by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday morning. Talking to reporters during the protest, Mr Kharge said, “Our demand from day one is that there should be an inquiry by a Joint Parliamentary Committee but the government is shying away from it. We do not understand why they are afraid of forming the JPC when they have the majority?”
Among the major opposition parties, the Trinamool Congress is the only one not to support the demand for a JPC probe. Demanding a debate specifically on the risk faced by SBI and LIC funds due to investments in the Adani group, the party believes that a Supreme Court-monitored probe – which is already underway – would be more effective.
At a press conference later in the day, Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said the Congress party needed to make up its mind. “In Tripura, you will be friends with the Left, it is your choice, in Bengal you will fight us with your life… Then in Meghalaya, before elections, how bad will you write on Trinamool. Your friends will become your enemies in Kerala, Meghalaya and West Bengal.” The Trinamool also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of turning Parliament into a “deep dark chamber”. “They don’t want Parliament to run because they don’t want to be accountable to the people,” Mr O’Brien said.