Parliament washout for 3rd day in row, Opposition unrelenting on Bihar rolls

For the third day running, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Wednesday without transacting any business amid protests by Congress-led Opposition against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral roll in Bihar.

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The adjournments since July 21, which have led to a loss of approximately Rs 18 crore of public money, have also resulted in practically no legislative business taking place in the first three days of the ongoing monsoon session.

According to conventional calculation, adjournments lead to a loss of around Rs 2.50 lakh per minute. In the last three days, around six hours each of work loss has been reported owing to adjournments in both the Houses, thus leading to a loss of around Rs 18 crore of public money.

Dressed in black dresses and black scarves, the lawmakers of India bloc parties, namely the Congress, DMK, TMC, SP, NCP-SP and the Left, repeatedly stormed into the well of both Houses, leading to repeated adjournments.

After atleast two adjournments each in both Houses, they were adjourned for the day at 2 pm. In the Lok Sabha, opposition members stormed the Well of the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, waving placards and raising slogans. The proceedings were adjourned until 12 noon.

Similar scenes played out when the House reconvened and BJP leader Sandhya Ray, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm after laying of parliamentary papers and introduction of two Bills of the sports ministry. Opposition members could be seen raising slogans like “SIR wapas lo (Roll back SIR)”. The Opposition demanded a discussion on the SIR.

When the House reconvened at 2 pm, the protests continued and the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. Speaker Om Birla in the morning, expressing displeasure over members displaying placards and banners in the House, said the protesting MPs were behaving as if they were on the streets and warned that he would be forced to take “decisive” action against them.

“You should behave in a manner that reflects the hopes and aspirations of the people who have elected you. You should work in a manner and and debate and discuss issues that will make people’s lives easier. But you have been showing street-like behaviour in Parliament,” he said.

Birla also told the members that their behaviour does not behove Parliamentarians. “The MPs are not supposed to carry placards. If you continue with such acts, I will be forced to take decisive action,” he said and asked the members to take their seats.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, too. The Upper House was eventually adjourned for the day amid Opposition protests over the special intensive revision of electoral roll in Bihar.