Logjam in Parliament: Proceedings in both Houses washed out for third consecutive day

New Delhi, July 20

Proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament remained disrupted for the third consecutive day, as Congress blamed the government for the situation because of its “obstinacy” of not accepting the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on price rise and hike in GST on food items, but BJP lashed out at its opponents claiming that they are showing “destructive attitude” towards democracy.

When the Lok Sabha met in the morning, Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that he would give them an opportunity to raise the issues during the Zero Hour.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said it was not right for the members to enter the well of the House and protest despite the Speaker assuring them that they will be allowed to raise the issues later.

As the din continued, Birla adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm but the opposition resumed its protests when the House met again. The House was then adjourned till 4 pm.

PV Midhun Reddy, who was in the chair, took up matters of urgent public importance under Rule 377 when the proceedings resumed. After a few members spoke amid the din, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.

In Rajya Sabha, too, proceeding washed out completely and was adjourned for the day amid continued protest by the Opposition parties led by the Congress over price rise and levy of GST on daily essentials.

As soon as the House resumed in the afternoon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Congress member Shaktisinh Gohil to speak on the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.

In the meantime, the opposition parties led by the Congress continued their protest and sloganeering in the House. Despite repeated requests by the deputy chairman, some members trooped into the well. He requested them to go back to their seats.

Harivansh also took note of Randeep Singh Surjewala taking pictures in the House and asked him not to do that saying it was against the rules. Even Union Minister Piyush Goyal pointed out that some members were taking pictures.

As the din continued in the House the deputy chairman adjourned the proceedings for the day.

In the pre-lunch session too, Rajya Sabha proceedings were washed out without transacting any business after Opposition parties continued with their protest over the issues.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Opposition has been demanding an urgent discussion on inflation and hike in GST rates but is being denied. “This morning in the Rajya Sabha the Opposition led by the Congress demanded an URGENT debate on price rise and senseless GST rates on food items. This was denied. The House was adjourned till 2 pm. Modi Sarkar’s obstinacy continues. Business in Parliament is suffering,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

However, Union Minister and leader of Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal slammed the Congress for disrupting proceedings in the House. He said, “Congress has a destructive attitude towards democracy. It was exposed from Jairam Ramesh’s tweet that Congress was successful in not allowing the House to function.”

The Minister said, the government is not running away from debate on price rise and GST and the issues can be taken up in Parliament once Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recovers from Covid-19.