The Rajya Sabha was abruptly adjourned for the day as Congress politicians demanded apology from Prime Minister Modi for his derogatory and bizarre comments on his predecessor, Dr. Manmohan Singh. This ruckus denied Sachin Tendulkar his maiden attempt to speak in the House. Tendulkar was to initiate a short duration discussion on the right to play and the future of sports in India, but the protests led Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House for the day.
Sachin Tendulkar was expected to address some long pending issues including coverage of Central Health Guarantee Scheme (CGHS) for international medal winners and incorporation of sports in school curriculum. He remained standing for 10 minutes, tight-lipped, as Opposition members raised slogans, ignoring Chairman Venkaiah Naidu’s calls to come to order.
The signs were clear from the morning. As soon as the Rajya Sabha met to start its work for the day, Congress members shouted slogans, drowning the voices of other members and forcing Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 2 PM. Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad sought an explanation from Modi for the ‘false propaganda’ on the 2G scam to come to power in 2014. Naidu disallowed Azad’s submission saying he had not given any notice. Citing a May 22, 1990 ruling of then Rajya Sabha Chairman Shankar Dayal Sharma, Naidu said that the Chair’s ruling on not allowing suspension of a Question Hour or allowing a discussion was final.
With Congress members refusing to relent and even coming out into the Well of the House, even moving up in front of treasury benches at one point, Naidu finally adjourned the House till 2 pm, after several attempts to silence the agitated MPs and make them return to their seats.
After 2 pm, Sachin Tendulkar was to get his turn and make his maiden speech. However, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal said he had a point of order: whether CAG reports can be leaked to newspapers before they are tabled. “Can we summon people responsible for tarnishing those in constitutional offices on the basis of CAG reports,” he wanted to know. The question was in the context of the acquittal of all 2G case accused. Suddenly, several Congress MPs got up and raised the issue of the PM’s remark and demanding his apology, shouting slogans: ‘Desh ko gumrah karna band karo’ (stop misleading the nation).
Naidu’s admonitions failed to restore order in the House. As the protests continued, a livid Naidu asked Tendulkar to proceed. The cricketer got up, but could only look on as noisy protests went on. Naidu decided it was best to adjourn the proceedings for the day.
In Lok Sabha, too, Congress raised the issue of Modi’s remarks against Dr Singh, protesting the Speaker’s decision not to allow them to raise the matter.
The Congress members trooped into the Well during the Question Hour and raised slogans, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan went ahead with the proceedings. Leading the Congress charge was Jyotiraditya Scindia. Little over 30 minutes into the Question Hour, he expressed concern about not being given the chance to raise the issue.
Scindia said the voice of opposition was being muffled in the House and questioned if the Government would decide what issues can be raised in the Lok Sabha.
Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Mohammed Salim and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav also came out in support of Congress.
The Speaker, however, did not permit the issue to be raised and proceeded with routine business. Congress members then staged a walkout in protest, with party leader Kharge saying the walkout was being done to “preserve the dignity of the country”.
According to Statistics available, during the year 2016, about 90 hours were wasted due to disruptions in the proceedings of the Parliament. Due to this about Rs. 144 crores were lost (Rs. 138 crores to run the Parliament and Rs. 6 crores for salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament). The taxpayers’ money was wasted in drain by none other than its own representatives. Although the demand by Congress was justified as such derogatory remarks should not be tolerated but still, the sensitivity towards the citizens was lost amidst the chaos. The same tactics were used by NDA candidates when they were in opposition. Its time when our politicians need to understand that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
The loss that the house has suffered does not belongs to one person. It is people’s money, Money of the nation, these kind of irresponsible and childlike behavior is making bringing loss and it’s high time people responsible for this situation should realise.
The other question that rises is, Is media running out of news or content? Why isn’t this still in the news trending? Why aren’t people aware about the loss of their money?
Why is Virat and anushuka’s weeding old but fresh news?
One fact is very clear if we go like this, we as a politician, we as a media person, we a student, was a youth continue with this behavior of ours.
We are under developing nation and will be forever.
We won’t achieve it ever.
