Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Proceedings Adjourned for the Day, Wakf JPC Term Extended

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday were disrupted due to opposition protests over the Adani bribery case and the Sambhal incident. The disruptions initially led to adjournment till 12 noon and later for the entire day.

In the Lok Sabha, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Nanded MP Ravindra Chavan took their oaths as members today. Following this, the session was adjourned until noon. However, when the proceedings resumed, opposition protests continued, forcing the house to adjourn for the day.

During the session, the Lok Sabha passed a proposal by voice vote to extend the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Wakf (Amendment) Bill 2024 until the last day of the Budget Session. The proposal was introduced by committee chairman Jagdambika Pal.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the opposition for disrupting the proceedings. He stated that during the Business Advisory Committee meeting, all members had agreed to discuss bills and ensure smooth functioning. However, disruptions persisted in the house.

Rijiju also condemned the opposition’s protests during the discussion on extending the tenure of the Wakf-related committee. He noted that although consensus had been reached on the extension, the opposition continued its protests even during the voting.

Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reminded the opposition about the 75th anniversary of the Constitution. He emphasized that while there had been disagreements and debates in the Constituent Assembly, they were conducted with decorum. He assured the opposition of adequate time and opportunities to discuss every issue.

Similarly, the Rajya Sabha witnessed disruptions. At the start of the session, Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh introduced a proposal for elections to the Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, which the house approved.

However, proceedings were adjourned until 12 noon shortly after. When the session resumed, opposition protests again disrupted the house, leading to adjournment for the entire day.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed his concern over the disruptions. He stated, “Our national spirit should resonate from the house. Parliamentary disruptions are not a solution but a disease that weakens our foundation and renders Parliament irrelevant. We must ensure its relevance.”

He further added, “When we deviate from constructive debates, we fail to honor the trust of millions who see us as custodians of their democratic aspirations.”