Lok Sabha Adjourned for the Day Amid Continued Opposition Protests
For the second consecutive day, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned on Friday as opposition members continued their vociferous protests over multiple contentious issues. This persistent disruption has once again prevented the House from taking up the crucial discussion on the Union Budget, which was presented on February 1, as reported by PTI.
Proceedings Halted as Protests Escalate
When the House reconvened at noon following an earlier adjournment, opposition members immediately resumed their demonstrations by entering the Well of the House. Chairing the session, Krishna Prasad Tenneti repeatedly urged the protesting members to return to their seats and put down their placards. However, with the opposition refusing to relent, Tenneti was compelled to adjourn the House until Monday, according to PTI reports.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla expressed profound disappointment at the ongoing chaos. He lamented that he cannot effectively run "such a House" and highlighted a significant waste of parliamentary time. The Speaker noted that a staggering 19 hours and 13 minutes have been lost due to disruptions in the current session alone, stating that such behavior disrespects the sanctity of the House.
Roots of the Disruption
The Lok Sabha has been witnessing continuous disruptions since Monday afternoon. The trigger was the Chair disallowing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi from quoting an article based on excerpts from former Army chief M.M. Naravane's unpublished memoir, which references the 2020 India-China conflict.
As soon as the House met on Friday, numerous opposition members trooped into the Well, shouting slogans and displaying placards. Speaker Birla emphasized that members are elected to raise public issues constructively, not to engage in persistent sloganeering. Amid the continuing din, the proceedings were adjourned within less than four minutes of convening.
A Growing Standoff and Unprecedented Move
The government and the opposition remain firmly locked in a standoff over several issues. In an unusual parliamentary development, the Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on the President's address on Thursday without the Prime Minister's customary reply. This reply had been scheduled for the previous day but was repeatedly disrupted by continuous sloganeering from opposition MPs.
Speaker Birla also issued a warning to opposition members against crossing over to the treasury benches, firmly stating, "I cannot run such a House." He further pointed out that there is a question marked for Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, urging protesting members to allow the House to function for such important business.
The ongoing protests underscore the deepening political tensions and are significantly hampering legislative productivity, delaying critical discussions like the Union Budget debate.
