No Work In Parliament For 2nd Day In A Row As Ruckus Over Rahul Gandhi's London Speech, Adani Row Continues

The second day of part two of Parliament's Budget session ended with no work due to continuous chaos on the issues of Adani-Hindenburg and Rahul Gandhi's speech in London.

Parliament Budget Session: No work on day 2 as well

Parliament Budget Session: The second day of part two of Parliament's Budget session ended with no work due to massive protests by the opposition and the ruling party over contention on the Adani issue and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's London speech. Both Houses witnessed adjournments till 2 PM during the first sitting and were later adjourned for the day after the continuous sloganeering did not let the House function properly.

When the proceedings resumed after 2 PM, the Chairs of both houses tried to conduct the regular activities of the Houses but continuous sloganeering hindered the same. 

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned soon after it began for the day after opposition MPs created a ruckus demanding a Joint Parliamentary Probe (JPC) on the Adani stocks. The speaker then announced adjournment till 2 PM.

Similarly, the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) saw heated arguments between the BJP and Congress MPs over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Indian democracy in London. While Union Minister Piyush Goyal maintained his demand for an apology from Rahul Gandhi, Congress responded to him by saying there was no need for an apology by the leader.

Meanwhile, Members of the Indian Youth Congress march towards Delhi LG House over the issue of JPC demand in Adani row.

Delhi | Members of Indian Youth Congress march towards LG House over the issue of JPC demand in Adani row pic.twitter.com/YVbzq9FWUV

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2023

The first day of the session on Monday had also witnessed adjournments soon after the proceedings began and later the session was adjourned for the day due to protests by the ruling party and the opposition.

 

Congress Moves Privilege Motion Against Piyush Goyal

Congress MP KC Venugopal said that party MP in Rajya Sabha Shaktisinh Gohil has moved a privilege motion against Union minister and BJP leader Piyush Goyal for naming Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi in the House.

 

Opposition Holds Separate Protests On Similar Issues In Parliament

In an interesting development, opposition parties on Tuesday held protests separately against the Centre demanding JPC on the Adani stocks issue. While BRS and AAP MPs held placards, Congress MPs staged a similar kind of protest but not along with the BRS and AAP MPs.

Similarly, the MPs of TMC protested demanding a probe into Adani stocks at the Mahatma Gandhi statues inside the Parliament complex but no other opposition party was with them. The same agenda but different agitation suggests a possible crack in the opposition's unity that has been under fire by the ruling BJP on several occasions.

However, reacting to the allegations of a divided opposition, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said that all parties have their own ways to protest, but the issue is same.

 

Parties Decide Agenda

In a meeting earlier on Tuesday, the like-minded opposition party leaders decided to raise in Parliament the Adani issue and demand a JPC probe on it.

 

Notices To Discuss JPC On Adani, Rahul Gandhi Speech Issue

Several opposition parties gave adjournment and suspension of business notice in Parliament to hold a discussion on a probe on Adani issue.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh gave a suspension of business notice demanding an investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg case and a discussion in the House on this issue. Similarly, Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, Manickam Tagore and BRS Rajya Sabha MP K Keshav Rao also gave suspension of business notice demanding a probe on Adani stocks.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari also gave an adjournment motion notice to hold a discussion on "the essence, substance and spirit of Freedom of Speech accorded to Members of Parliament under Article 105 of the Consitution" on the issue of Rahul Gandh's speech in London.

 

BJP vs Opposition

The intense BJP vs Opposition battle was quite visible in Parliament on Tuesday. BJP MPs again raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi over his statement in the Parliament House. They shouted 'Rahul Gandhi Traitor' and 'Rahul Gandhi Murdabad'.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has said that the Centre doesn't want to run the Parliament.

"Has it ever been witnessed that all the members of a party in power create a ruckus to halt the Parliament? Why should Rahul Gandhi apologise? Instead, they (Centre) should apologise," he added.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that what Rahul Gandhi said in London 'was milder than what PM Narendra Modi has said in foreign countries. He added that Rahul Gandhi expressed concern about the state of Indian democracy and attacks on it by the practices of the ruling government.

Congress MPs even decided to protest at gate number one carrying placards of PM Modi's old statements abroad to reply to BJP attacking Rahul's statements. They also agreed to raise the issue of Adani stocks in the demonstration.

 

PM Holds Meeting With Top Ministers

PM Narendra Modi earlier on Tuesday held a meeting with his top ministers including Pralhad Joshi, Piyush Goyal Narendra Singh Tomar, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Thakur and Nitin Gadkari in Parliament.

 

Rajya Sabha Congratulates 'RRR', 'The Elephant Whisperers' For Oscar Win

Amid chaos by opposition MPs and moments before its first adjournment for the day, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday congratulated the teams of 'RRR' and 'The Elephant Whisperers' for their Oscar win.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhakhar said, "These achievements reflect a global appreciation of the vast talent, immense creativity and committed dedication of Indian artists. Indeed another facet of our global rise and recognition."