TMC MPs accuse Shah of bullying Oppn, walk out of RS

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 21

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha to protest against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s decision to cancel the Question Hour and the Private Members’ Bills in order to advance the discussion on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

According to the revised list of business, the discussion on the Ministry of Home Affairs, which had begun on Wednesday, was originally scheduled to be taken up after the Private Members’ Bills. A total of 38 Bills—mostly from Opposition members—were listed for introduction by members as Private Members’ legislations. Following that, the continuation of the discussion on MHA was to take place.

TMC MP Sushmita Dev raised concerns, stating that the time left to discuss the Ministry of Home Affairs would be insufficient if Private Members' Bills were taken up first. She urged the Chairman to defer the MHA discussion to Monday. However, Dhankhar denied the request, explaining that the discussion could not be postponed due to the Lok Sabha's schedule, which included the passage of the Appropriation Bill that day.

Dhankhar further suggested that the Private Members' Bills could be addressed on April 4, the last day of the session, a proposal that was approved by the House through a voice vote.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien opposed the decision, emphasising the importance of the Question Hour as it allowed members to directly question the government. He also objected to dispensing with Private Members' Bills, which, he said, offered members a chance to speak-a privilege they would otherwise not have. As Dhankhar stood by his decision, TMC MPs walked out of the House.

Later, speaking to The Tribune, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque said, "The discussion on MHA could have taken place on Thursday. But Shah probably did not have time yesterday. Amit Shah has now started bullying the Parliament," Haque said.