Lok Sabha disrupted again as opposition continues protest
New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the second day in the ongoing Winter session as protests by opposition parties over farmer issues lead to repeated adjournments on Tuesday.
Soon after a new member took oath and the Question Hour began, members of the TRS trooped into the Well demanding a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) as well as compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the agitation against the farm laws.
Appealing to the members to go back to their seats, Speaker Om Birla said they should discuss issues during the Question Hour and that their conduct was not sending out the right message.
TRS members shouted slogans and displayed placards standing in the Well of the House while other Opposition members, including from the Congress and Left parties, sought to raise certain issues from their seats.
Later, members of the Congress, NCP, Left parties and DMK walked out of the House alleging that the government was suppressing the voice of the Opposition.
However, Trinamool Congress members neither joined the protests nor walked out.
A visibly anguished Birla lamented that proceedings were being disrupted when important questions were being answered.
It is not right, the Speaker repeatedly asserted but as the din continued, he adjourned the proceedings till 2 PM.
As the House reconvened, members of the opposition again started their protest. In less than two minutes, A Raja, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 3 PM.
The scenes were no different when the House met again.
Speaker Om Birla repeatedly asked the members to maintain order in the House.
After laying of papers by ministers and members, and introduction of The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill 2021 by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
Speaking in the din, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “We are here to support the government. We don’t come here for a picnic… we come here to raise issues of the public. We wanted a discussion on farm laws but the government did not allow discussion. So the fault lies with the government.”
It is the duty of the government to ensure the smooth functioning of the House, he added.
TMC member Kalyan Banerjee too hit out at the government for not discussing the farm laws in the House.
Earlier, Shiv Sena’s Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai, representing Dadra and Nagar Haveli constituency, took oath.
Press Trust of India
