Parliament – Lok Sabha Session Disrupted Amid Opposition Protests, House Adjourned
Parliament – The Lok Sabha was forced to suspend its proceedings until noon on Wednesday after loud protests by Opposition members prevented the House from conducting regular business.
The disruption began shortly after the Lower House convened for the day. Members from the Opposition benches attempted to raise multiple issues simultaneously, leading to repeated slogan shouting and continuous interruptions. The commotion made it difficult for the Chair to proceed with the scheduled agenda, including the Question Hour.
Speaker Urges Members to Maintain Order
Amid the growing unrest, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to all members to allow the House to function in an orderly manner. He reminded lawmakers that Question Hour is a critical part of parliamentary work and emphasized the importance of respecting institutional norms. The Speaker also called on members to uphold decorum and ensure that parliamentary traditions are followed.
Despite these appeals, the disruptions continued unabated. Only one starred question, along with its supplementary queries, could be taken up during the Question Hour, which lasted for approximately five minutes. The sustained noise and interruptions left the Chair with little option but to adjourn the House.
Proceedings Adjourned Until Noon
With the atmosphere in the chamber remaining tense, the Speaker announced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha until 12 noon. The decision was taken in an effort to restore order and provide time for members to resolve differences through discussions outside the House.
The adjournment marked yet another instance of legislative business being stalled during the ongoing Budget Session. Repeated disruptions have significantly affected the House’s ability to transact scheduled discussions, debates, and legislative matters.
Background of the Ongoing Standoff
The current impasse follows disciplinary action taken earlier in the week. On Tuesday, eight Opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Budget Session due to what was described as unruly conduct. The suspended lawmakers included seven members from the Congress party and one from the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Their suspension has further intensified tensions between the government and the Opposition, contributing to the continued disruptions witnessed in the House over the past few days.
Dispute Linked to Remarks on India-China Conflict
The unrest in the Lok Sabha has been ongoing since Monday afternoon and is linked to a disagreement over remarks made during a discussion on national security. The controversy arose after Rahul Gandhi was not permitted to quote from a media article that referenced an unpublished memoir attributed to former Army chief M M Naravane.
The article reportedly discussed aspects of the 2020 India-China border standoff. The ruling side objected to the citation, arguing that references to unpublished material were not admissible in parliamentary debate. The Opposition, however, maintained that the issue raised was of public importance and warranted discussion.
Legislative Work Continues to Be Affected
The repeated adjournments have raised concerns over the loss of valuable parliamentary time, particularly during the Budget Session, which is considered crucial for financial discussions and policy decisions. While both sides have reiterated their positions, the stalemate has continued to disrupt the normal functioning of the House.
Efforts to restore order and resume regular proceedings are expected to continue as parliamentary leaders from various parties hold consultations. Whether these discussions will lead to smoother conduct of the remaining sessions remains to be seen.