Parliament – Kiren Rijiju Reaches Out to Rahul Gandhi Amid Lok Sabha Deadlock
Parliament –The Central government has initiated fresh efforts to resolve the prolonged stalemate in the Lok Sabha, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju reaching out to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, according to sources. The move comes as repeated disruptions during the ongoing Monsoon Session have continued to affect the functioning of the Lower House, preventing regular legislative business from taking place.
House Adjourned Following Continued Protests
The Lok Sabha witnessed another day of disruptions as Opposition members raised slogans over multiple issues, including alleged police action against students. Amid the continued protests, proceedings could not continue as scheduled and the House was adjourned until 2 pm. The repeated interruptions have significantly affected the day’s agenda, including important parliamentary business.
Speaker Urges Members to Maintain Order
When the House assembled, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to members to return to their seats and allow the scheduled Question Hour to begin. Addressing the protesting Opposition members, Birla said that raising slogans and displaying placards inside the House undermines parliamentary traditions and weakens the dignity of democratic institutions.
He stressed that such conduct, whether inside or outside Parliament, does not contribute positively to democratic functioning. The Speaker urged all members to cooperate so that legislative work could proceed without further interruptions.
Question Hour Continues to Be Affected
The ongoing Monsoon Session, which commenced on July 20, has faced repeated disruptions, preventing the Lok Sabha from conducting a complete Question Hour even once. The inability to take up members’ listed questions has become a major concern, as Question Hour is considered one of the most important mechanisms through which lawmakers seek accountability from the government.
According to the Speaker, several Members of Parliament have expressed disappointment that their scheduled questions remain unanswered because of the continued disruptions in the House.
Bills Passed Without Detailed Discussion
Despite the repeated adjournments and disruptions, Parliament has managed to pass five Bills during the current session. However, these legislations were cleared without detailed debate as persistent protests and slogan shouting left little room for comprehensive discussion on the proposed laws.
The lack of deliberation has drawn attention to the impact of the continuing deadlock, with normal parliamentary functioning remaining affected throughout much of the session.
Government Seeks Political Dialogue
Against this backdrop, Kiren Rijiju’s outreach to Rahul Gandhi is being viewed as an attempt to open channels of communication between the government and the Opposition. While there has been no official statement on the outcome of the contact, the initiative reflects an effort to find common ground and restore normal proceedings in the Lok Sabha.
With several legislative matters still pending, both the government and Opposition face increasing pressure to ensure that Parliament resumes its regular functioning. Whether the latest attempt at dialogue succeeds is likely to influence the course of the remaining Monsoon Session.