Parliament Proceedings were suspended for the day on Wednesday amid slogans chanted by opposition and Treasury banks over Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi’s “democracy under attack” comment made in the UK.
As soon as the house was assembled, members of the opposition stormed into the pit with banners and shouting slogans. They demanded an investigation by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group.
Members of the treasury banks also chanted against it, demanding an apology from Gandhi for his comments made during an event in the UK. Gandhi had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and that there is a “large-scale attack” against the country’s institutions.
The comments have sparked a political fight. The BJP accused Gandhi of smearing India on foreign soil and seeking foreign intervention, while Congress hit back at the ruling party citing cases where Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised internal issues. policy abroad.
House proceedings have been on hold since they resumed for the second stage of the budget session on Monday.
On Wednesday, Parliament Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged members to return to their seats and allow the house to function.
“This house is for having discussions and dialogues. Let’s talk about politics and have a good discussion on issues related to public welfare. If we want the well-being of the people and we consider this house a temple of democracy, I will ask you to at least not do it. comment on this house,” Birla said.
“It’s not right to comment, either inside (the house) or outside. Talking about issues and politics here. It’s not right to bring banners like this here. I’m warning. This is wrong,” he said.
The Spokesman’s comments came in the context of Gandhi’s accusations that the Opposition are not allowed to speak in the house and that their microphones are turned off.
“Banners and slogans are never allowed in the house. Please return to your seats. I will give you adequate time to speak,” Birla said.
Rising from his seat, Union Minister Piyush Goyal urged the speaker to suspend members from proceedings if they do not allow the house to run smoothly and if Gandhi does not apologize for his comments.
“It’s a very serious issue. The strictest measures should be taken against this. The way a member of the house insults the Parliament of India by going abroad. Until he doesn’t apologize and if they don’t feel there was an insult and They continue with that kind of insults.” of behavior, they should be suspended from house proceedings,” Goyal said.
The Speaker asked the agitated Opposition members if their behavior in the house was proper.
“This (India) is the largest democracy in the world. What message do you want to send? Is such behavior by members appropriate? Please return to your seats,” Birla said.
“They have the right to raise slogans with banners in hand outside the house in democracy,” he added.
As the members refused to budge, the speaker initially adjourned the meeting until 2 pm. When the house resumed, the slogans continued even as Bhartruhari Mahtab, who was on the chair, kept calling for order.
“It is not the sole responsibility of the president to maintain order in this chamber. It is the responsibility of all members,” Mahtab said.
He also said that while papers were allowed in the house, posters were not allowed.
Amid the uproar, Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt introduced the Inter-Services (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill 2023 in the House.
Slogans like “Raul Gandhi Sadden me aao (Raul Gandhi come to parliament)” were raised when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi sought an apology from Gandhi. Joshi said that instead of apologizing, the Congress party was bringing banners to the house.
“I receive calls from the diaspora that Raul Gandhi insulted the country. He has spoken against the speaker. He has filed complaints against institutions. India is a sovereign country and asking other countries to intervene is an insult,” he said.
Seconds after the minister’s statement, the president adjourned for the day.
(Only the headline and image in this report may have been modified by Business Standard staff; all other content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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