Adjournments, disruptions, and protests marked the day in both Houses of Parliament which convened on Monday after the weekend break.
As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla made remarks about the security breach, stating that it is unfortunate that some parties are politicizing the incident, emphasizing that it is not an incident for doing politics.
While the Speaker made the remarks, the Opposition members continued their protest, raising slogans— “Pradhan Mantri jawab do, jawab do”—seeking a statement from the Prime Minister.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also urged the Opposition members to allow the House to function, emphasizing that this is the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha and discussions should take place.
Birla tried to conduct the Question Hour, but when the Opposition members did not relent, he adjourned the House till 12 noon.
When the House reassembled at noon, the Opposition members again started slogan eering, and amid the din, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the Telecommunication Bill, 2023, which was listed by the government through a supplementary list of business.
BSP MP Ritesh Pandey opposed the introduction of the Bill, pointing to Section 177 of the Constitution, under which it is being proposed as a money Bill. He urged that the Bill be sent to a committee.
Later, BJP’s Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 2 pm. When the House reconvened, B V Sathyavathi of the YSRCP, Bhola Singh of the BJP, Prataprao Jadhav of the Shiv Sena and BSP MP Ram Shiromani Verma took part in a discussion on the post office Bill. Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan replied to the debate.
The Lower House was adjourned for the fourth time, till 3 pm, soon after the passage of the Post Office Bill.
When the House reassembled, Agrawal said the members had been violating rules. He then named the members, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion to suspend them from the remaining part of the winter session, which ends on December 22.
Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were also adjourned twice before lunch on Monday. A visiting delegation from Sri Lankan Parliament was in attendance during the commotion.
Post-lunch, the Upper House suspended 45 opposition members for the rest of the session. While 34 members were suspended for the remaining part of the session, the “misconduct” of 11 others was also referred to the Privileges Committee, which has been asked to give its report in three months. They have been suspended until the report is submitted by the panel.
After the motion for suspension was adopted, chairman Dhankhar asked the members to leave the House. The members continued to raise slogans.
The vice president referred to the members as “shouting brigade” and said that their conduct brought severe disrepute to the House.
Amid slogans demanding answers from the home minister, Dhankhar said it was “painful” that the members were not participating in a debate to help half of humanity. He said it was possible to pass the women’s reservation Bill after three decades and several failed attempts because everyone came together.