Lok Sabha, which met on Monday, kicking off the third week of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, was adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar and sloganeering by Opposition members.
As soon as the House assembled at 11 am, the Opposition members started raising various issues, including the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive in Bihar. Amid the din, the House could function only for 10 minutes and take up only one question. Samajwadi Party’s Moradabad MP Ruchi Vira asked a starred question about employment in government companies, which was answered by Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked the Opposition to stop sloganeering and allow the House to take up Question Hour. “I have urged earlier also. I again want to urge the honourable members. The Question Hour is important, which belongs to the honourable members. During the Question Hour, members ask questions about several ministries and departments and the government replies… I try every day. You should maintain the decorum of the House,” Birla said.
“The House will not function through placards and slogans. Disrupting the House in a planned way is not good for Parliamentary procedures and conventions. If you have any issue or a question, meet me after the Question Hour, I will give you ample opportunity to discuss any issue as per the rules,” Birla said, adding, “Earlier too, I have given ample time to all members. Many important Bills have to be discussed… If you don’t want to let the House function, then it is not a good tradition.”
The Lower House has listed the National Sports Governance Bill, which envisages greater transparency in the functioning of sports bodies, for consideration on Monday. The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill is also expected to be taken up.
Reminding Opposition MPs that the people of the country are watching them, the Speaker said, “This is not fair… Lakhs of people have elected you and they have expectations… The member of Samajwadi Party has asked a question, you too can ask. I will give you an opportunity. Your conduct is not fair. This is not as per the rules and procedures of the House. You don’t want to run the House? You want to disrupt the Question Hour.”
“I feel that you want to disrupt the proceedings of the House in a planned manner. Therefore, the House is adjourned till 2 pm today,” he stated.
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The Lok Sabha has been witnessing disruptions since the beginning of the Monsoon Session on July 21. Except for the discussion on Operation Sindoor, the House has not transacted any substantial business.
