After the Opposition members displayed placards at the commencement of Question Hour on Wednesday, Speaker Om Birla condemned the act saying comments should never be made about the Parliament whether outside or inside, and the sanctity of Parliament must be maintained.
For the third consecutive day, Parliament was adjourned after brief proceedings as Opposition parties protested strongly the government’s demand for an apology by Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in speeches delivered during his recent UK tour.
Within minutes of the Question Hour called by Speaker Om Birla at 11 am, the Opposition members began protesting by displaying placards.
Calling the protests unacceptable, Birla said he would allow the members to have their say, but it was not acceptable for them to shout slogans and show placards.
The Speaker said if the members considered Parliament to be the temple of democracy, comments should never be made about it whether outside or inside. “Making remarks on Parliament was not proper,” he said.
Birla said the members could display placards and shout slogans outside Parliament. “India is the largest democracy in the world. The members should consider what kind of message they wanted to convey to the world,” he said.
As the Opposition members continued to shout slogans, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm, when the House met for a few minutes before being adjourned for the day.
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the matter was serious and there should be strong action on this. “If the Opposition members did not consider that the Congress leader had insulted Parliament, those holding placards and protesting should be punished with suspension.”
The minister also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on parliament and said that till the time he comes and apolgises, the members of his party should be made responsible.
In the Rajya Sabha, after the presentation of official papers during the morning sitting lasted a few minutes, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he had received 11 notices for suspension of work for other businesses from members from different parties.
As the Treasury Benches shouted for “apology,” and the Opposition responded with demands of a JPC into alleged financial irregularities by the Adani Group, the Chairman adjourned the House till 2 pm.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge narrated at 2 pm that Opposition leaders had gone to the Enforcement Directorate office to demand the JPC. As the ruling benches shouted for an “apology”, saying they would not accept the insult of the nation, they were supported by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. The Chairman later adjourned the House for the day, as the shouting continued.
