Parliament stalled as Oppn carries on with protests over Adani issue

The government’s hopes for the start of a debate on the President’s address in Parliament in the new week were dashed on Monday as a determined Opposition stalled proceedings in both Houses again, raising the allegations of fraud against the Adani group and demanding a JPC probe.
The government was hopeful that the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address will start on Monday. The prime minister generally replies to the discussion in both Houses.
As soon as Lok Sabha met after the weekend break, opposition members, mostly Congress MPs, entered the Well shouting slogans such as “Adani sarkar shame-shame”.
They reiterated their demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the allegations of fraud and stock manipulation by a US-based short-selling firm against the port-to-power conglomerate. The Adani Group has denied the allegations against it.
Speaker Om Birla urged them to go back to their seats and participate in the debate. “This is not good. Sloganeering is against the dignity of the House. People have elected you to raise their issues in Parliament but you are not interested in participating in debate,” he said. He assured them that he would give the Opposition enough time to raise their issues in the House.
However, the Opposition ignored his pleas and continued their protests and slogan-shouting, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 2 pm.
TMC members were also on their feet but protested from their seats. As the House resumed after 2 pm, the opposition parties continued their protests. Rajya Sabha proceedings were similarly adjourned for the day without transacting any business as a united Opposition continued to raise in the House allegations of fraud against the Adani Group.
Meanwhile, outside Parliament, members of 17 opposition parties held a protest at the Gandhi statue after their demand for a discussion in Parliament was rejected in both Houses. Later in the day, some opposition leaders indicated that they could relent and allow the House to function on Tuesday.
The protest by various opposition parties in front of the Gandhi statue followed a meeting to coordinate their joint strategy in the House on the Adani issue. Congress, DMK, NCP, BRS, JDU, SP, CPM, CPI, JMM, RLD, RSP, AAP, IUML, RJD and Shiv Sena were among the parties that participated in the meeting held in Kharge’s chamber. Trinamool Congress members skipped the meeting but joined the protest in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex.