Parliament LIVE: Proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Rahul Gandhi asked the speaker for time to speak today
Rahul Gandhi had also met Birla last week after his return from Britain. Sources said that Rahul Gandhi wants to present his stand in the House regarding his statement regarding Indian democracy, for which the BJP is constantly demanding an apology from him. Sources say that he wants to discuss his statement within the House and hence has sought time from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The BJP alleges that the Congress leader has insulted India from foreign soil and urged foreign interference in India. Rahul Gandhi had said in a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on External Affairs that he could not be termed as anti-national for his comments and had not spoken of any foreign interference.
The struggle will continue till the demand is accepted: Opposition
The opposition does not seem to be softening its stand on the Adani issue. Before the commencement of the proceedings of the House on Monday, a meeting of all the opposition parties was held. Congress President Kharge, K.K. C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, TR Balu of DMK, Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) besides leaders of several parties including AAP, RJD, CPM, CPI, NCP, JDU, IUML, National Conference, participated. Later Samajwadi Party also joined it.
The opposition parties are united in taking on the government in this session over the misuse of various central agencies and the alleged scam involving the Adani Group. It was also agreed to raise the issue of police inquiry regarding a statement given by Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra in the House. After the meeting, all the opposition parties came in front of the media and kept their point. Several opposition parties, including the Congress, accused the government of trying to divert attention from the demand to set up a JPC to investigate the Adani Group case, saying that their struggle would continue democratically until the demand was accepted.
Congress Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari claimed that the ‘drama’ being played by the ruling party could not happen without PM Modi’s behest. Tiwari said that it is necessary to constitute a JPC to investigate the scam that has been done by sitting at the feet of Bharat Mata and this demand is in the interest of the people of the country. He said that the BJP feels that if the JPC probe takes place, it will be exposed.
Uproar and sloganeering in the house for the second week also, no work was done
As soon as the meeting of the house started on Monday morning, sloganeering and uproar started in the house from the ruling party and the opposition. Meanwhile, Congress members also tried to raise the issue of Delhi Police officials seeking information from Rahul Gandhi over a statement he made during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to the members to stop making noise and allow the meeting to go on. He said that after the Question Hour, the opposition members would be given enough opportunity. Any member who has given notice under the rules and procedure shall have an opportunity to speak. When the ruckus did not stop, he adjourned the proceedings of the house till 2 pm after minutes.
When the house met again at 2 o’clock, there was sloganeering from both the sides. Amidst the uproar, the presiding chairman Kirit Solanki got the necessary documents placed on the floor of the House. Various Union Ministers and Committee Chairmen laid the relevant papers. Presiding Speaker Solanki appealed to the slogan-shouting members to walk the House. When the uproar did not stop, he adjourned the proceedings for the day after about 15 minutes.
