Due to the ongoing impasse between the government and opposition parties over Rahul Gandhi’s “democracy in jeopardy” comment in London and a call for an investigation into charges against the Adani Group, Rajya Sabha deliberations were deferred for the day on Monday without concluding any work.
As soon as the Upper House reassembled for the afternoon session, after being adjourned in the morning session, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Sujeet Kumar (BJD) to raise a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship amid sloganeering by the treasury bench and the opposition members.
The slogan screaming persisted even as Kumar attempted to speak, causing the deputy chairman to postpone the House for the day.
The government and opposition parties exchanged jabs earlier as the House convened for the day over Gandhi’s statement in London and the need for an investigation into the claims against the Adani Group.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had postponed the proceedings till 2 PM during the morning session because both the BJP, which is in power, and the opposition parties were yelling slogans.
Dhankhar said he had received notices under rule 267-9 from Congress members, including Pramod Tiwari, Rajneet Ranjan, Kumar Ketkar, Syed Nasir Hussain, Amee Yajnik, AKhilesh Prasad Singh, Neeraj Dangi and Mukul Wasnik, to discuss the failure of the government to constitute a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to look into allegations of accounting fraud and stock market manipulation against the Adani Group.
Binoy Viswam (CPI) and Elamaram Kareem (CPM) wanted the Supreme Court to oversee a high-level investigation into the allegations made against the Adani Group by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research, while Shaktisinh Gohil (Congress) wanted to talk about the “Z-plus” security given to Gujarat conman Kiran J. Patel, who pretended to be a PMO official.
Rule 267 mandates that the topic at hand be discussed before continuing with the day’s business.
Both parties were standing and shouting before the chairman made a decision about the 267 notices. The Congress-led Opposition demanded a debate over the Adani scandal, while the Treasury benches demanded Gandhi apologise for his comments made in London.
The proceedings were subsequently postponed till 2 PM by Dhankhar.
The difficulties also caused last week’s Upper House sessions to be delayed.
The day has ended for Lok Sabha.
On Monday, the Lok Sabha was postponed for the day after a commotion in the House over Congressman Rahul Gandhi’s statements about democracy.
Several documents were placed on the table and reports were presented when the sessions began at 2:00 PM.
The House was suspended for the day, nevertheless, as the noise persisted.
Speaker Om Birla had earlier in the day invited irate members to his office to talk about their concerns and find a solution.
“You arrive, sit, and talk. Both the governing and opposition parties attend the discussion in the chamber. We will manage the Property and find a solution. We will also talk about your themes and problems,” he remarked.
Members of the Treasury benches had brought up Gandhi’s comments as the morning’s proceedings got underway. Congress-affiliated opposition members also chanted slogans calling for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) investigation into the suspected stock manipulation by the Adani Group.
“Stay put. Let’s continue with Question Time. Nation wants to monitor what happens in the House. In an attempt to calm the House, Speaker Birla said, “This House is yours. The members will have plenty of opportunities to comment as allowed by the rules following the Question Hour, he further reassured them.
“Why are you making slogans. Slogans do not belong in the house. This is wrong, he said. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) member Harsimrat Kaur Badal displayed a sign from her seat, which the Speaker said was not permitted in the Parliament.
The SAD member’s poster said “rescue democracy” on one side and “please enable Parliament to operate” on the other.
“You want people to carry signs into the House and for Parliament to work? Is that how you run Parliament? Placards are not permitted, Birla informed her, requesting that she take the sign down.
The Speaker pleaded with the members to let the House do its business.
He postponed the meeting till 2 PM because the members were unwilling to budge.
Since the second phase of the Parliamentary Budget debate began on March 13 and the BJP demanded Gandhi apologise, the debate has been a complete washout.
Gandhi recently said that there was a “full-scale assault” on the country’s institutions and that the foundations of Indian democracy were being attacked during his encounters in the UK.
