Lok Sabha functions for 18 minutes amid Opposition protest over Bihar electoral rolls revision

As soon as the House sat, Opposition members from the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Left and Trinamool Congress (TMC), among others, stormed the Well of the House with placards reading ‘SIR=Death of Democracy’, ‘SIR: Stealing Indian Rights’, ‘Quit SIR’ and ‘Modi Sir, No SIR’. Members also shouted slogans of “Tanashahi nahi chalegi (Autocratic rule will not work)”.

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was fielding questions during the Question Hour, rose to say, “It is my prayer that today’s Question Hour is about farmers, poor, villages… the Opposition should allow these questions to come to the fore.”

Following this, Speaker Om Birla said, “Today, Question Hour will discuss issues of farmers and problems faced by them. But you do not want the House to run. You do not want farmers’ issues to be discussed. If you come here with placards with an intention to create ruckus, it is against the traditions of the House. …This House is for discussion and debates and not for sloganeering. …I will not allow placards.”

Birla then adjourned the House till noon.

Following this, Opposition members gathered at Makar Dwar of Parliament and held a protest, shouting slogans and holding placards.

As proceedings resumed at noon, Jagdambika Pal took the Chair and allowed for papers to be laid on the table even as Opposition members once again stormed the Well of the House and continued to protest, demanding a discussion on SIR. Pal said that the Speaker had received adjournment notices from some members, but none have been allowed.

“I am requesting to K C Venugopal ji, Akhilesh Yadav ji and all the respected leaders. Yesterday, you had raised an issue that there should be a discussion on Operation Sindoor. The parliamentary affairs minister had said that it would be decided in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). The BAC has accepted 16 hours of discussion on it. If you want a discussion on SIR… this will be brought before the BAC. I will give a ruling on the issue. The government is ready to discuss all issues. The government is ready to give a reply,” Pal said.

Following this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said, “We are ready to discuss any issue on which you give a ruling. I appeal to them that they should take their seat so that a discussion can happen under the rules.”

Opposition members, however, continued sloganeering.

“Instead of showing placards, submit your proposals and resolution, and the Speaker will give time… government will give a reply. You are forcing the House to adjourn,” Pal said before adjourning the House till 2 pm.

As the House began proceedings at 2 pm, Dilip Saikia took the Chair even as Opposition MPs continued their protest. Saikia requested MPs to take their seat and assured that all issues would be discussed.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “It was decided in the BAC that first a discussion would be held on Operation Sindoor. Time was fixed. Do you want to discuss all issues together? How is that possible? I condemn the way they protest with placards on every other issue. They are asking for discussion, and we are ready for it. But they disrupt the House. This is not good. You are wasting the money of the people. Who will answer for it? I condemn the disruption being engineered by the Congress and some other parties.”

Saikia said such disruptions were against the spirit of democracy, and then adjourned the House for the day.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed repeated adjournments as Deputy Chairman Harivansh chaired the proceedings, a day after the sudden resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, also the ex-officio chairman of the Upper House.