Speaker Om Birla Laments Over 19 Hours of Wasted Time in Parliament Amid Protests
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed deep frustration on Friday as the Budget Session faced significant disruptions, leading to the adjournment of the House. He revealed that a staggering 19 hours and 13 minutes have been lost due to ongoing protests by Opposition members, severely hampering legislative work.
Chaos in Lok Sabha as Opposition MPs Stage Protests
As soon as the Lok Sabha convened for the day, numerous Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House, brandishing placards and chanting slogans. In response, Speaker Om Birla promptly adjourned the proceedings, stating firmly, "I cannot run such a House." This marked the second consecutive day where discussions on the Union Budget were unable to proceed, highlighting the persistent gridlock.
When the House reconvened at noon, the protests continued unabated, with MPs refusing to return to their seats. Presiding over the session, MP Krishna Prasad Tenneti urged the protesting members to cease their demonstrations and remove their placards. However, with no signs of relenting, he adjourned the House until Monday, further delaying critical parliamentary business.
Root Cause of Disruptions Traced to Earlier Incident
The current wave of disruptions in the Lok Sabha began earlier in the week following an incident involving Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Speaker Birla had prevented Gandhi from quoting from an article referencing the 'unpublished memoir' of former Army chief M M Naravane, sparking outrage among Opposition parties and leading to sustained protests.
Rajya Sabha Proceeds with Ministerial Replies and Private Member Bills
In contrast to the turmoil in the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha managed to conduct its business more smoothly. During the Question Hour, Union Ministers addressed key issues related to railways and agriculture, providing updates and engaging in discussions.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted challenges in land acquisition for railway projects in Kerala, noting that only about 14% of the required land has been acquired. He emphasized the need for state support, citing the Angamali-Sabarimala railway line as an example and expressing hope that land acquisition efforts would continue beyond the election period.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reported progress on digital IDs for farmers, stating that 8.48 crore farmers across 19 states have received these IDs, with work ongoing in other states to expand the initiative.
Private Member Bills Introduced in Rajya Sabha
Several private member Bills were introduced in the Rajya Sabha, covering a range of social and regulatory issues:
- Airline Passengers' Rights Bill by Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT), aiming to curb exploitation in air fares and ensure compensation for delays and luggage issues.
- Bill to amend the Census Act of 1948 by Haris Beeran (IUML), proposing mandatory nationwide censuses at least every 10 years.
- Bill to regulate online dating services by Fauzia Khan (NCP SP), seeking to prohibit casual dating platforms while promoting serious matrimonial services.
- Bill for free medical treatment by Sanjay Seth (BJP), advocating financial assistance for individuals with rare and life-threatening diseases.
The ongoing disruptions underscore the challenges in parliamentary productivity, with Speaker Birla's remarks drawing attention to the urgent need for decorum and efficiency in legislative proceedings.
