Parliament Monsoon Session Begins today (Img: IANS)
New Delhi: Proceedings in Parliament remained disturbed even on Tuesday with the Opposition not allowing any business in both the Houses. Presiding officers tried to run the Houses, but the Opposition forced both the Houses to be adjourned twice. However, in the din and bustle, the Lok Sabha managed to pass the Appropriation Bill moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha, the Registration of Birth and Death Bill was passed.
When the Lok Sabha met this morning, Speaker Om Birla suggested that the Question Hour be taken up. However, the Opposition trooped into the well of the House with slogans, demanding the discussion of the Ram temple issue, as well as the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament. The Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm. When the House re-assembled, the Opposition continued with sloganeering. With much difficulty, the Appropriation Bill was passed within 5 minutes, and the House was later adjourned for Wednesday.
In the Rajya Sabha also, Chairman Radhakrishnan did not entertain the opposition protest and made attempts to run the House; however, the protest continued. The Chair had to adjourn the House till 12 noon and later to 2 pm. When the House met at 2 pm, the government took up the Registration of Birth and Death Bill, which was passed earlier by the Lok Sabha. Despite wild protest from the Opposition, Deputy Chairman Harivansh continued the discussion on the bill with NDA MPs participating for half an hour. Then the House was adjourned to Wednesday.
Opposition sources made it clear that the present stalemate is expected to continue this week also since the government did not agree to the two main demands in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of both the Houses.
One of the demands is that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should make a statement in Parliament on police action and use of pellet guns. The other is for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement on the Ram temple donation theft case. The FCRA Amendment Bill
and Delimitation Bill are not yet on the agenda for this week, as per sources.
While the Central government has remained noncommittal on these demands, in both the BACs, time has been allotted to discuss three key bills. Sources said that in the next few days, the government has another three bills that will be taken up for passage despite the opposition protest.
