Parliament News LIVE: Day 3 of Session Washout Amid RaGa vs Adani Row; Oppn March 'Blocked'

Leaders of several opposition parties were on Wednesday stopped by the police at Vijay Chowk here as they took out a protest march from Parliament House to hand over a complaint to the Enforcement Directorate on the Adani issue. As the opposition leaders were stopped from proceeding to the agency’s office, they returned to Parliament complex.

The Congress on Wednesday accused the Modi government of “undermining and weakening” democracy in the country by stalling Parliament in order to save a businessman. “What the government is doing in Parliament is a proof that democracy in the country is being undermined,” Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told reporters.

Soon after proceedings resumed in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till 11 am on Thursday. Ruckus had ensued over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s UK remarks.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM on Wednesday as opposition members raised uproar over the BJP’s demand for an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his democracy remarks made in London. Soon after laying of papers, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he has received 11 notices in seven categories under Rule 267 for suspension of business but before he could give a ruling on the notices the BJP members raised the apology demand.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Smriti Irani on Wednesday addressed a press conference shortly before the commencement of Parliament proceedings. Coming down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s UK remarks, she launched a fresh attack against the Congress leader claiming he tried to defame India on foreign land. READ MORE

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned almost as soon as they began on Wednesday morning amid ruckus over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s UK remarks. Slogans of ‘Rahul Gandhi Maafi Mango’ were heard.

Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in the UK, accusing him of defaming Parliament and spreading misconceptions, and demanded he apologise. Gandhi, during a recent visit to the UK, had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy were under “brutal attack” and there was a full-scale assault on the country’s institutions.

On Wednesday, the opposition will consider proposal for a letter against the government signed by all MPs and a march to the ED office. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh clarified that the party will continue to demand a JPC.

BJP leader Smriti Irani on Wednesday said, “It is shameful that Rahul Gandhi instead of coming to parliament is busy ranting against India. Throwing papers on the chair and humiliating it, is that democracy for him?”

18 Opposition parties are all set to meet and discuss the Adani-Hindenburg report ahead of the Parliament session today.

BJP leader Smriti Irani Addressed a press conference ahead of Parliament proceedings on Wednesday. She slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks made in UK. “At the feet of India’s colonial past Rahul Gandhi lamented lack of foreign intervention to bring halt to India’s resilient growth,” she said.

While the Centre is seeking apology from Gandhi, the Congress and like-minded parties want a JPC on Adani-Hindenburg issue. The session now has 17 days left before it ends on 6 April. The government needs to pass the finance bill and the ministry-wise demand for grants in this session.

The two consecutive days in Parliament have been washed out with both the ruling dispensation and the Congress-led Opposition sticking to their demands. On Tuesday, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha couldn’t function amid disruptions and protests from both sides.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday alleged that Parliamentary proceedings were adjourned because the Modi government refused to form a JPC to probe the Adani-Hindenburg report.

The Congress, on the other hand, hit back at PM Modi for his attacks on the Gandhi scion, saying that even the prime minister had criticised the country on several of his trips abroad. Hence, they sought an apology from the PM as well. Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera claimed that the prime minister in his remarks abroad said that people considered it unfortunate to be born in India, and asked if he was not worried of what he was doing to the country’s image.

India made it big at the 95th Academy Awards held on Monday as SS Rajamouli’s RRR song ‘Naatu Naatu’ won Best Original Song and Guneet Monga & Kartiki Gonsalves’s The Elephant Whisperers won Best Documentary Short film awards. Naturally, a glimpse of celebration was seen in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, as Members of Parliament took turns to congratulate makers of both films and the Indian fraternity. READ MORE

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari gave a suspension of business notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha, on the Adani Group issue. The notice comes ahead of a joint meet by 18 opposition parties to discuss their strategy in Parliament.