Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha adjourns amid slogans by Congress, BJP

BJP leaders claimed that the Congress’s refusal to drop the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) despite the apex court’s verdict has forced the party to be in combative mode, signalling that there could be business in the House if the Congress drops the demand for a JPC probe.

As the Lok Sabha met, AIADMK MPs trooped to the Well carrying banners with photos of their late leader J Jayalalitha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and former CM O Paneerselvam, seeking to stop Karnataka government’s plans to construct a dam across the Cauvery in Megedatu.

The BJP MPs joined them from the treasury benches holding placards, written in English and Hindi, that stated, “We Demand Rahul Gandhi’s Apology”.

In the Opposition benches, TDP MPs held placards demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh, while Congress MPs shouted slogans initially.

When Speaker Sumitra Mahajan called for Question Hour, BJP MPs started shouting, “gali gali mein shor hai Rahul Gandhi chor hai (there’s a buzz in town that Rahul Gandhi is a crook)”. This provoked Congress MP Sushmita Dev, who shouted back, “Modi chor hai, Amit Shah chor hai (Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah are crooks).”

As the pandemonium intensified, Mahajan adjourned proceedings. When the House met again at noon, Congress MPs came prepared with placards and held them high. Sonia Gandhi was seen giving directions to party MPs. She pointed fingers at Mahajan and demanded Congress leader of the House Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak. Kharge said they are ready for discussion but demanded a JPC to probe the Rafale deal so every file related to the issue can be scrutinised. “In order to get the House in order, you allow a JPC,” Kharge said. Mahajan replied that constitution of JPC is not under her purview.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the Supreme Court verdict has made things clear, indicating that there is no need for a JPC on Rafale issue. “What’s the relevance of a JPC now?” he asked.

Upset with the disruption, Mahajan said the members are well aware that this is an important session before the general election next year. She said the government is ready for a discussion, but the ruckus continued.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi came into the House just before the proceedings were adjourned for the day. He was seen taking a banner from the Congress MPs. It read: “(The government) have given thousands of crores in Rafale, pushed farmers into trouble.”

In the din, the National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was introduced in the House. The Bill seeks to declare various NIDs as institutions of national importance.

The proceedings barely lasted 10 minutes after it re-assembled at noon.