Parl Budget Session ends amid uproar over Adani row, Rahul's remark

on Thursday adjourned sine die, ending the four-week-long second leg of the Budget session, during which treasury and opposition members locked horns over Rahul Gandhi's 'democracy' remark and the Adani issue.

Lok Sabha 

Lok Sabha's Budget session ended as scheduled on Thursday with Speaker Om Birla announcing that the House had been adjourned sine die (for an indefinite period) as opposition MPs kept up their protest for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue

The protest began as soon as the House met for the day and proceedings were adjourned in six minutes.

Opposition members from the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to the well raising slogans and carrying placards with their demand for a JPC probe into allegations of fraud against the Adani Group.

"You have lowered the dignity of the House. This behaviour is not good for parliamentary system and the country," the speaker told the opposition MPs.

"This House is always for high level of debate and discussions. But you systematically disrupt the proceedings which is not good," he added.

Such behaviour, he said, is against the parliamentary system and not good for the House or the country.

"Dignity of the House has to be maintained... The House is for debate and discussions. I always give you enough opportunities to speak," he said.

Congress and DMK MPs, mostly dressed in black, ignored the speaker's pleas and continued their protests.

After completing his customary valedictory speech, Birla announced the adjournment of the House sine die.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, were present in the House.

Most Bharatiya Janata Party members were wearing saffron scarves to coincide with the foundation day of the party.

Minutes before the House started, the prime minister entered the House and walked towards his front row seat.

As soon as he entered, the BJP members chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' and some other slogans.

The speaker said in his speech that the House began on January 31 and President Droupadi Murmu delivered her address to the joint sitting on that day.

He said there were over 13 hours of debate on motion to thank the president for her address and 143 MPs participated in it. The prime minister replied to the debate.

Birla said the budget was presented on February 1 and the debate on the budget took place for over 14 hours with 145 MPs participating and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman giving her reply.

The Lok Sabha has not been functioning properly since the second part of the budget session began on March 13 due to protests by opposition and treasury benches.

While the opposition has been unrelenting in its demand for a JPC, the treasury benches are demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his democracy is under attack remarks in London.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the House during the session after he was convicted by a court in Gujarat in a criminal defamation case.

Rajya Sabha

When the Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2 pm after an adjournment in the morning, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the suspension of Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil for filming proceedings of the House has been extended beyond the Budget session after taking inputs from the privileges committee which is investigating the matter.

He said the committee in its meeting held on March 27 sought an extension of time till the first week of the Monsoon session to complete the investigation.

"Taking note of the inputs from the privileges committee, I find it expedient invoking rule 266 read with 256 that (the) February 10, 2023, suspension order of Smt Rajani Ashokrao Patil may continue to be in force beyond the current session and till the House has the benefit of the recommendations by the privileges committee," he said, drawing sharp protests from the Opposition members.

Before that, the DMK's Tiruchi Siva and the Congress' Shaktisinh Gohil sought clarity over the implications of Dhankhar's Wednesday decision to reject Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's objection to Rajya Sabha discussing a statement of Gandhi.

The chairman, however, was firm on his decision.

Amid protest by opposition members over the suspension issue, Dhankhar read out his valedictory remarks, stating that the 259th session of Rajya Sabha was closing 'albeit on a note of concern'.

He said it was worrisome and alarming that the 'paramountcy of debate, dialogue, deliberation and discussion in Parliament has yielded to disruption and disturbance'.

The productivity of the first part of the Budget Session was 56.3 per cent. For the second part it plummeted to an abysmal 6.4 per cent, Dhankhar said.

"Cumulatively, the House productivity was only 24.4 per cent," he said adding, "Disruptions claimed 103 hours and 30 minutes of its time."

The second leg of the Budget session was marred by disruptions as the treasury bench demanded an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'democracy under attack' remark made in London while the Opposition parties persisted with their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue.

"Weaponising politics by stalling the functioning of Parliament is pregnant with serious consequences for our polity. This is to the utter dislike of the people at large.

"In the public mind, we as a class are subject of disdain and ridicule. We need to reflect our track record on the anvil of expectations of the people," Dhankhar said even as the Opposition members continued with their sloganeering.

Amid the din, Dhankhar greeted the members on forthcoming festivals of Easter, Buddha Purnima, Eid and others and adjourned the House sine die.

In the forenoon, the House was adjourned following uproarious scenes with the opposition demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue, while BJP members demanded Rahul Gandhi's apology for his democracy remarks made abroad and said they would not allow 'Bharat mata' to be insulted.