The Lok Sabha’s Budget Session – the second leg — ended as scheduled on Thursday with Speaker Om Birla announcing that the House had been adjourned sine die (for an indefinite period) as Opposition MPs kept up their protest for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani share manipulation issue.
The second-part of the Budget Session was marred from the beginning with Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, and the ruling BJP running on the confrontation path, leading to the constant derailment of the proceedings. For days together, the House was adjourned without transacting any key business.
While the Opposition had been unrelenting in its demand for a JPC, the Treasury Benches were demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his democracy is under attack remarks in London.
Congress member Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the House during the session after he was convicted by a court in Gujarat in a criminal defamation case.
Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die amidst continuing ‘black-dress protest’ by the Congress and other Opposition members. The protest began as soon as the House met for the day and proceedings were adjourned in six minutes.
Opposition members from the Congress and the DMK came to the well raising slogans and carrying placards with their demand for a JPC probe into allegations of fraud against the Adani Group.
“You have lowered the dignity of the House. This behaviour is not good for parliamentary system and the country,” the speaker told the opposition MPs.
“This House is always for high level of debate and discussions. But you systematically disrupt the proceedings which is not good,” he added. Such behaviour, he said, is against the parliamentary system and not good for the House or the country.
“Dignity of the House has to be maintained... The House is for debate and discussions. I always give you enough opportunities to speak,” he said.
Congress and DMK MPs, mostly dressed in black, ignored the speaker’s pleas and continued their protests. After completing his customary valedictory speech, Birla announced the adjournment of the House sine die.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, were present in the House. Most BJP members were wearing saffron scarves to coincide with the foundation day of the party.