New Delhi, Nov 25: The winter session of Parliament got off to a rocky start on Monday with both houses being adjourned within minutes of the commencement of proceedings as the opposition tried to corner the government on the issue of corruption allegations against the Adani Group and demanded a JPC probe.
Addressing media before the two Houses met, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the opposition on the issue of disruptions, saying those rejected by people “80-90 times” were trying to control Parliament by resorting to hooliganism for their political gains.
Several opposition MPs had given adjournment notices in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of the day’s listed business to discuss the issue of the indictment of Adani group head Gautam Adani and others in a US court on charges of paying bribes to secure solar power supply contracts. But the notices were disallowed by the Chair, drawing protests from the opposition benches.
Outside Parliament, the opposition INDIA bloc alleged that the government was “’scared” of a discussion on the issue and sought a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the “scam”.
They questioned why Parliament was adjourned for the day without transacting any business, after which Lok Sabha officials said it was a convention to adjourn the proceedings of the House for a short duration immediately after making an obituary reference to a sitting member.
Congress leader Vasant Chavan from Nanded in Maharashtra and Trinamool Congress leader S K Nurul Islam from Basirhat in West Bengal — both members of the current Lok Sabha — died between two sessions of Parliament.
There will be no sittings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution. Both houses will meet again on Wednesday (November 27).
President Droupadi Murmu will lead the celebrations at the Central Hall of the old Parliament complex on November 26 to mark the occasion. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Speaker Om Birla will also speak, the government said.
Ahead of the commencement of the winter session, Modi said those who have been continuously rejected by the public are trying to control Parliament for their own political gains, resorting to disruptions and chaos Such handful of people did not succeed in their intentions but the people of the country observed their actions and punished them at an appropriate time.
The monsoon session of Parliament was hit by opposition protests demanding a JPC probe into US-based Hindenburg Research’s allegations of financial irregularities and stock manipulation by the Adani Group.
The Adani Group has denied allegations of irregularities in both the matters.
“There should be a healthy debate in Parliament but, unfortunately, certain individuals are trying to control Parliament for their own political gains, resorting to disruptions and chaos,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“Though their tactics ultimately fail, the people watch their behaviour closely and deliver justice when the time comes,” he said.
