LokSabha – Opposition Protests Force Repeated Disruptions in Lower House

LokSabha – Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were brought to a halt shortly after they began on Friday, as sustained protests by Opposition members prevented the House from conducting any business. The sitting was adjourned until 12 noon within minutes of convening, reflecting continuing tensions between the Treasury benches and the Opposition during the ongoing session.

Disorder Erupts Soon After Session Begins

The disruption unfolded almost immediately after the Speaker called the House to order. Several Opposition Members of Parliament moved into the Well of the House, raising slogans and displaying placards on multiple issues. Their actions drowned out proceedings and made it difficult for the Chair to proceed with the scheduled agenda.

Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged members to return to their seats and allow parliamentary business to continue. Despite these appeals, the protests showed no signs of easing, forcing the Chair to intervene more firmly.

Speaker Warns Against Persistent Interruptions

Addressing the House, the Speaker expressed concern over the repeated disruptions that have marked the current session. He reminded members that Parliament exists to facilitate debate, dialogue, and the orderly raising of public issues, not slogans or demonstrations within the chamber.

Birla cautioned that continued interruptions undermine the dignity of the House and weaken democratic processes. He noted that elected representatives are expected to articulate concerns through discussion and established parliamentary procedures rather than obstructing proceedings.

Significant Time Lost During the Session

The Speaker also drew attention to the cumulative impact of repeated disruptions. According to his remarks, more than 19 hours of scheduled parliamentary time have already been lost during the ongoing session due to protests and adjournments.

He appealed to protesting members to reconsider their approach, pointing out that important questions and discussions were listed for the day. Among them was a question submitted by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, which could not be taken up because of the disorder.

House Adjourned Within Minutes

With the situation remaining unchanged, the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha less than four minutes after it convened. The decision underscored the depth of the impasse, as no legislative or deliberative work could be carried out amid the continuing protests.

This was not an isolated incident, as similar scenes have played out repeatedly during the session, raising concerns about the productivity of Parliament.

Background to the Opposition’s Protest

The ongoing protests are being led primarily by the Congress, with support from other Opposition parties. Their demonstrations stem from the Speaker’s refusal to allow the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to speak on remarks attributed to former Army Chief General M M Naravane in his unpublished memoir.

According to Opposition leaders, the memoir contains references related to the 2020 India-China border standoff and mentions senior government figures, including the Prime Minister and key Cabinet ministers. The Opposition has demanded that the Leader of Opposition be allowed to address the House on the matter.

Disciplinary Action Against Members

Earlier this week, eight Congress MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha amid continued protests over the same issue. The suspensions further escalated tensions, with Opposition parties accusing the government of stifling dissent and limiting debate within Parliament.

The government, however, has maintained that the House cannot function if disruptions persist and that established rules must be followed for discussions to take place.

Motion of Thanks Passed Without Prime Minister’s Reply

The deadlock reached an unusual point on Thursday when the Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address without the Prime Minister delivering his customary reply. This departure from parliamentary convention occurred because ongoing protests made it impossible for the Prime Minister to speak in the House.

The development highlighted the extent to which repeated disruptions have affected parliamentary norms and legislative functioning during the session.

As the session continues, uncertainty remains over whether normal proceedings can resume unless both sides find a way to resolve the standoff and restore order to the House.