Parliament: RS Witnesses Uproar Over Adani JPC Demand, LS Secretariat Cautions Oppn Against Protests At Makar Dwar

Parliament Winter Session: Amidst Rajya Sabha disruptions, Congress MPs raised bribery allegations against the Adani Group, which were disallowed, leading to a fiery debate.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other opposition MPs stage a protest during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Source : PTI

Parliament Winter Session: The Rajya Sabha resumed functioning after days of disruptions, with 42 adjournment notices under Rule 267 dismissed by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the highest number in decades. While TMC and Samajwadi Party members staged brief walkouts, the House proceeded with Zero Hour mentions, where issues like Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu and the Sambhal violence were highlighted.  

Congress MPs Syed Naseer Hussain and Pramod Tiwari ignited a fiery debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as they sought to raise bribery allegations against the Adani Group. Their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation was, however, disallowed by the Chair during discussions on the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill, 2024.  

Hussain alleged that objections raised by NITI Aayog and the Finance Ministry during the bidding for six airports, later awarded to the Adani Group, were disregarded. "We are asking for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the bribery charges against this person," Hussain remarked, further accusing the government of fostering "crony capitalism" by handing over the aviation sector "on a platter to a few friends."  

As treasury benches objected, Tiwari questioned if the word "Adani" had become unparliamentary. Sasmit Patra, presiding over the session, reiterated that only remarks related to the Bill would be recorded, adding, “I have already ruled that anything which is not within the scope of the debate on the Bill as per Rule 110 will not go on record.”  

Hussain also claimed that the country's foreign policy was being structured to benefit a single individual, prompting BJP members, including Leader of the House J.P. Nadda, to demand the expunging of such remarks. Nadda insisted Hussain's comments were irrelevant to the Bill and "maligning" in nature, urging the Chair to preserve the dignity of the House.  

Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha Secretariat Cautions Oppn Against Protests In Front Of Parliament Gates

The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued an advisory discouraging protests in front of Parliament gates, citing potential safety and security concerns. This followed demonstrations at the Makar Dwar by opposition MPs earlier in the day.  

Earlier in the day, MPs from the Congress, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, and Left parties staged protests at the Parliament’s Makar Dwar, demanding accountability from the government. Rahul Gandhi, Sanjay Singh, Misa Bharti, and Arvind Sawant were among those leading the protests, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

In a Facebook post, Rahul Gandhi posed a pointed question to the Modi Govt: "Who benefits from Adani's billions, Modi ji? The Prime Minister's silence speaks volumes." The Congress and its allies have consistently demanded a JPC probe following allegations of bribery and fraud against the Adani Group by US prosecutors. The conglomerate has denied all charges as "baseless."  

Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha Sees Heated Exchanges Over Indira Gandhi

Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Sambit Patra's remarks about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during a discussion on the Banking Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sparked another heated exchange. DMK’s A Raja and Congress leaders objected, with KC Venugopal defending Indira Gandhi's legacy, stating, "Indira Gandhi is a martyr of the country, and she won against Pakistan." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, countered by referencing the Emergency. Speaker Om Birla urged MPs to maintain decorum and avoid unnecessary slogans.