New Delhi: In response to persistent calls from the opposition for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the nation’s electoral rolls, the second day of the winter session of Parliament was adjourned at 2:05 PM on Tuesday. MP Dilip Saika, presiding over the Chair of the Speaker, encouraged the Opposition MPs to maintain decorum and allow the House to function.
“The country wants the Parliament to work, please listen to the people atleast. You (Opposition MPs) sit down, please, because of you, the Parliament is not operating, and the country is watching. We do not have a recourse if you do not want the House to function. Every day it cannot happen, this is really bad, you come to the well. You do not want the House to function,” Saika stated before adjourning the House shortly after.
Even when the Chair tried to address issues under Rule 377, the Opposition MPs’ persistent requests and protests prevented the proceedings from continuing. “Chairman, please listen to us as well. Listen to our demands too,” yelled the Opposition MPs while standing at the well of the House and continuing their cries of “vote chor, gaddi chod.”
Since the Lok Sabha’s sessions started at 11 AM, there have been three adjournments. The first adjournment came within minutes after the opening, with the House reconvening at midday. Even then, the House could operate only for a few minutes, as protests persisted. Ministers and MPs took part in Question Hour and provided reports from several committees throughout the brief times of operation.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju earlier chastised the Opposition for interfering with the House’s operations just before it was adjourned at noon, stating that although the government does not view any issue as less important than another, MPs must adhere to the House’s rules. “We said from the first day that we should debate with a calm mind. Yesterday we protested against the protest. Today I want to protest against this (Opposition sloganeering) again. There are multiple issues in the country, I do not consider any issue to be smaller than the other, but Parliament functions according to the rules, you cannot bury other issues,” Kiren Rijiju continued despite Opposition sloganeering.
The Winter Session continues amid repeated disruptions, with the government pressing MPs to cooperate to maintain the smooth operation of legislative business.
