Price hike: Opp disrupts Parliament proceedings for fifth day

Government claims it is ready for a discussion as soon as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman recovers from Covid

Opposition MPs wave placards in front of Speaker  Om Birla in the Lok Sabha on Friday.: PTI picture

TT Bureau   |   New Delhi   |   23.07.22  : The Opposition on Friday disrupted proceedings in both Houses of Parliament for the fifth successive day, demanding a discussion on price rise and a rollback of the GST on essential food items.

The government accused the Opposition of holding Parliament to ransom and “depriving the rights of members”. It claimed it was ready for a discussion as soon as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman recovered from Covid.

The Opposition’s loud protests in defiance of the presiding officers’ pleas for order led to adjournments.

Opposition members trooped to the well of the Lok Sabha as the House assembled for Question Hour in the morning, waving placards and shouting slogans such as “GST wapas lo (Roll back GST)” and “Gas ka daam kam karo (Reduce the price of LPG)”.

They disregarded the Speaker’s requests to return to their seats.

“The people of the country want the House to run and there should be debate and discussion. I request you to take your seats…,” Speaker Om Birla said, trying to conduct Question Hour amid the protests.

As the ruckus continued, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi rose and accused the Opposition of deliberately not allowing the House to run.

“(The) majority of the hon’ble members want Question Hour to run. They (the Opposition) are depriving the rights of the members. I condemn this attitude,” Joshi said.

“We are ready for discussion as soon as the finance minister comes back after recovery.”

Sitharaman had arrived in Parliament in a PPE kit earlier this week to vote in the presidential election.

After two adjournments, the Lok Sabha met after lunch at 2pm, when the Antarctic Bill was taken up and passed while Opposition members continued to protest loudly in the well.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu refused to suspend business to allow a discussion on the price rise. Naidu said a discussion could be held separately but not under Rule 267, which provides for suspension of the day’s business to discuss a matter.

“You have wasted one week’s precious time of the people and also Parliament,” Naidu said. “This is not the way, particularly when the House is ready to discuss and the government has also expressed its willingness.”

Naidu adjourned the House till noon. As the House reassembled, Question Hour was conducted amid sloganeering from the Opposition.