Winter Session Ends in Chaos: Parliament Adjourned Sine Die Amid Acrimony

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st Dec. The Winter Session of Parliament concluded on Friday with adjournment sine die, marking a turbulent session marred by political discord and disruptions. While the session witnessed robust debates on constitutional values and the introduction of landmark bills on simultaneous elections, it was overshadowed by clashes between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition parties, culminating in Thursday’s scuffle over alleged insults to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Highlights and Low Points

The Lok Sabha adjourned within three minutes of convening on Friday, as Speaker Om Birla refrained from delivering the customary closing remarks due to ongoing hostility. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar managed to deliver his valedictory remarks before adjourning the House.

Productivity Details:

• Lok Sabha: Functioned for 43 hours with 58% productivity.
• Rajya Sabha: Logged a mere 40.03% productivity during the session.

Dhankhar called for greater decorum in parliamentary discourse, urging parties to rise above political differences.

Bills and Legislative Activity

Despite disruptions, Parliament saw some legislative progress:

• Five Bills Introduced: Lok Sabha passed four, and Rajya Sabha cleared three.
• The highlight was the introduction of two key bills to facilitate simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

A special session on November 26 commemorated Constitution Day, with spirited debates reflecting the session’s high points.

Political Tensions Escalate

Thursday’s altercation between rival MPs, which left two BJP members hospitalized, marked the session’s nadir. The clash stemmed from protests over Home Minister Amit Shah’s alleged remarks against Ambedkar, which the opposition deemed insulting. The BJP countered with accusations that Congress had historically undermined Ambedkar’s legacy.

• Both sides filed police complaints, with an FIR lodged against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for allegedly injuring BJP MPs.
• Notices for breach of privilege were filed in both Houses, with the opposition targeting Shah and the BJP targeting Gandhi.

Opposition Accusations and Government Response

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed his party achieved “100% performance” by raising pertinent issues, including allegations against the Adani Group. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju blamed the opposition, particularly Congress, for disruptions, urging introspection on the low productivity.

Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion

Opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar, citing bias and lack of trust. Deputy Chairman Harivansh dismissed the motion, calling it “flawed and hasty.”

Conclusion

The Winter Session highlighted deepening political divides and waning parliamentary decorum, despite moments of meaningful debate. The introduction of simultaneous elections bills marks a legislative milestone, but the overall session underscores the urgent need for consensus-building in India’s parliamentary process.