Parliament: Another day, another adjournment without any substantial business

New Delhi: Belying expectations of normal functioning in the second week of Parliament's Winter Session, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for another day on Monday without transacting any substantial business as Opposition demands for a discussion on Adani issue, Manipur and Sambhal violence were rejected.

In Rajya Sabha, notices of 20 Opposition MPs were rejected by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who said MPs are “undoubtedly cognizant” of Murphy's Law that says 'anything that can go wrong will go wrong', and it “appears that there exists a deliberate algorithm to actualise Murphy's Law” in the House, consequently “impeding the proper functioning of Parliament”.

“We find ourselves achieving precisely the antithesis of what our Constitution ordains…What we are doing is a spectacle to people's absolute disdain...Don't make it dysfunctional,” he said, adjourning the House till 12 noon amid Opposition protests. When the House reconvened, Opposition protest continued and he adjourned the House for the day.

Congress Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh posted on 'X', "I.N.D.I.A parties had given notices for an immediate discussion on Adani, Manipur, Sambhal and Ajmer. These parties never agitated. There was hardly any sloganeering. But the Modi government simply did not want Parliament to function. The situation is truly extraordinary. The Opposition wants a discussion but the government is running away from it."

He also said I.N.D.I.A parties have also wanted a two-day discussion on the Constitution on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its adoption, which was celebrated on November 26. The Modi government has yet to notify the dates for this discussion, he added.

Like last week, Lok Sabha too witnessed MPs rushing into the Well of the House over the three issues.

Reconvening at 12 noon after the first adjournment during Question Hour when a question was answered, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, was introduced by Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, amid din.

BJP's Sandhya Ray, who was chairing the proceedings, urged the MPs to allow the House to function since voters of the country were watching and their issues must be raised. Soon, she adjourned the House for the day as protests continued.

The first week, which had four working days, saw proceedings being washed out with the Lower House functioning for just 54 minutes and the Upper House for 75 minutes. On Monday, there were expectations that the government and the Opposition would find a middle path to enable the Houses to function, but it did not happen.