The 19-day Winter Session of the Lok Sabha concluded on Friday, adjourned sine die by Speaker Om Birla. The session, which spanned over 15 sittings, was officially noted for a productivity of 111 percent. However, it was equally marked by a series of dramatic, chaotic, and occasionally absurd moments that captured the nation's attention, alongside the passage of significant legislation.
Key Legislation and Heated Debates
The legislative agenda was dominated by the passage of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill. This landmark legislation replaces the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and guarantees 125 days of employment for rural households. Its passage was met with fierce resistance from the Opposition, which demanded it be sent to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny.
Other important bills cleared during the session included one that opens up the civil nuclear sector to private companies. Debates also touched upon election reforms and the commemoration of 150 years of 'Vande Mataram'.
Viral Moments: From Vaping Accusations to a Parliamentary Puppy
Beyond the bills, the session generated several viral controversies. A major row erupted when BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP of vaping an e-cigarette inside the Lok Sabha. BJP's IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, later identified the MP as TMC leader Kirti Azad, calling the act "unacceptable" and challenging West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to comment.
In a lighter but equally discussed incident, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury brought a rescued puppy into Parliament on the session's first day. Defending her action, she took a swipe at the ruling party, stating, "The real ones (dogs) who bite are sitting in Parliament." When questioned by reporters about a potential privilege motion, she famously barked, "Bhow, bhow… aur kya bolun?"
Unruly Scenes and Heated Exchanges
The passage of the Viksit Bharat Bill was particularly tumultuous. Opposition MPs, primarily from the Congress, stormed the well of the House, shouted slogans, and tore copies of the bill. This prompted Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to condemn the actions as a "murder of Bapu’s ideals," accusing the Opposition of turning democracy into "mobocracy."
Tempers also flared during a debate on election reforms. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi challenged Home Minister Amit Shah to an open debate on allegations of "vote chori" and the presence of "19 lakh fake voters." Shah retorted sharply that Parliament would not function according to Rahul Gandhi's wishes, a response Gandhi called "defensive" and "scared."
Protests, Walkouts, and a Lighter Interlude
The Opposition's discontent culminated in dramatic walkouts during the voting on the key rural employment bill, which they slammed as a threat to livelihoods. The protests extended beyond Parliament hours, with Opposition parties staging a 12-hour overnight dharna in the Parliament complex.
Amid the acrimony, a cordial moment emerged when Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari during Question Hour. She raised issues concerning landslides on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway and road projects in Wayanad. Gadkari assured action and light-heartedly remarked, "Bhai ka kaam kar diya, behen ka nahin karunga toh aap bolenge ki nahi kiya," eliciting laughter. The meeting also featured Gadkari offering a rice dish he learned to cook from YouTube.
With the sine die adjournment, the Winter Session closed a chapter filled with substantive lawmaking and unprecedented theatrics, setting the stage for the next political showdown.
