The Opposition parties on Thursday scaled up their protest against the rejection of their demand for Parliament to discuss the Chinese border aggression, causing a ruckus in both Houses.
Opposition members chanted slogans and invaded the Well forcing multiple adjournments in the Lok Sabha, which could transact little business.
Members, mostly from the Congress, shouted “Sadan me aao, sadan me aao, Pradhanmantri sadan me aao (Come to the House, Prime Minister)” and “Chai pe nahi, China pe charcha karo (Talk China, not tea)”.
When the Lok Sabha met in the afternoon following the first adjournment, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi appealed to the Opposition to allow the House to run, saying China could not be discussed in detail in the House since the issue was “sensitive”.
However, along with the appeal, Joshi also launched an attack on the Congress, angering the Opposition.
“These people who are demanding a discussion on China — everybody knows how much land we lost to China during their time because of their ‘Hindi Chini bhai bhai’ (India-China brotherhood) policy,” the minister said amid a din. He accused the Congress of having taken “rishwat” (bribe) from China.
The House was adjourned again, following which it met at 2pm, when health minister Mansukh Mandaviya read out a statement on the Covid situation.
The Opposition sloganeering continued as Mandaviya spoke.
After the Opposition’s demands to discuss China forced two more adjournments, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition parties had given 12 notices for discussions on various issues, including the Chinese incursions, under Rule 267.
Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected all the notices saying the members had not furnished the required details. Congress members were seen entering the Well several times and demanding discussions on China.
“The Chinese are building bridges, houses near the border. We want a discussion. Also, the leader of the House (Piyush Goyal) must apologise for his remarks about Bihar,” leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said.
Goyal had made the remark on Tuesday during discussions on finance bills.
After Rashtriya Janata Dal member Manoj Jha said the government should give equal attention to the poor and corporate houses, Goyal had retorted: “If they have their way, they will turn the entire country into Bihar.” Jha has written a letter to Dhankhar protesting the comments.
“There was no intention to insult anyone. If anybody felt hurt, I immediately withdraw the statement,” Goyal said.
When Dhankhar tried to proceed with Zero Hour business, Congress members began protesting and entered the Well, shouting slogans.
Members K.C. Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik tried to justify the protest, leaving the Chair livid.
Later, the Opposition parties staged a walkout. Congress members boycotted the proceedings for the rest of the day.