Proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the third day due to continued vociferous protests by Opposition members who were demanding an urgent and immediate discussion over price rise and the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on some daily-use items.
A defiant opposition has not allowed the Question Hour to be run in two houses with members continuously shouting slogans and carrying anti-government placards. In Rajya Sabha a member was also seen to be clicking pictures.
When the Lok Sabha began proceedings in the morning, Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that he would give them an opportunity to raise the issues during the Zero Hour.
"This House is for discussions and not for shouting slogans. This kind of conduct is not appropriate for the decorum of the House and there is a process to be followed by the members," the Speaker said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said it was not right for the members to enter the well of the House and protest despite the Speaker assuring them that they will be allowed to raise the issues later.
"Are the protesting members interested in discussions or not?" Joshi asked. As the din continued, Birla adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm but the opposition resumed its protests when the House met again.
The House was then adjourned till 4 pm. P V Midhun Reddy, who was in the chair, took up matters of urgent public importance under Rule 377 when the proceedings resumed. After a few members spoke amid the din, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.
In the Rajya Sabha proceeding washed out completely and it was adjourned for the day amid continued protest by the Opposition parties led by the Congress over price rise and levy of GST on daily essentials. As soon as the House resumed in the afternoon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Congress member Shaktisinh Gohil to speak on the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. All this while, the opposition parties led by the Congress continued their protest and sloganeering in the House.
Unwilling to heed the request of the deputy chairman for restoring order in the house , some members trooped into the well. He also took note of Randeep Singh Surjewala taking pictures in the House and asked him not to do that saying it was against the rules. Even Piyush Goyal pointed out that some members were taking pictures.