Parliament LIVE | Women MPs from BJP seek apology from TMC leader
Rijiju highlights how Dhankhar has protected dignity of the House and of democracy while the Opposition has been going all out to attack and malign the Chair
Lok Sabha on Wednesday (December 11) witnessed repeated adjournments as remarks by Kalyan Banerjee against Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia created an uproar which refused to die down despite apology tendered by the TMC member. Finally, the chair adjourned the House for the day.
Trouble arose when Banerjee was speaking during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act. The TMC member alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai countered it, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along.
Rai also alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of Covid vaccines through its territory.
Scindia stood up and supported Rai, saying that India had emerged as a "Vishwa Bandhu" during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world.
Following this, Banerjee attacked Scindia and made certain remarks against the minister which were expunged by Speaker Om Birla. The verbal spat between the treasury and opposition benches lead to adjournment.
When the House reconvened, Banerjee apologised for his remarks, but Scindia refused to accept. "Mr Kalyan Banerjee rose in this House and said sorry. But I will say that we all come to this House with the spirit of contribution to the nation's development...but we also come with a sense of self respect.
"Any individual in their lives will not stand compromising with their self respect. Attack us on our policies, on our views, but if you will get personal, certainly be prepared for the response," the Union minister said. "He has apologised...I do not accept his apology for the personal attack that he had made on me and on the women of India," he said.
Banerjee apologised again but protests from treasury benches continued. A Raja, who was presiding the House, said the two have settled the matter between themselves. Earlier in the afternoon, Rajya Sabha was also adjourned.
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A group of women MPs from the BJP met Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, seeking strict action against TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee for calling Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia a “lady killer".
Trouble arose when Banerjee was speaking during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act.
The TMC member alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the Covid-19 pandemic, but Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai countered it, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along.
Rai also alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of Covid vaccines through its territory.
Scindia stood up and supported Rai, saying that India had emerged as a "Vishwa Bandhu" during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world.
Following this, Banerjee attacked Scindia and made 'Lady Killer' remarks against the minister which were expunged by Speaker Om Birla.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for 30 minutes after a spat between the treasury and opposition benches.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi raised the issue of the situation in Manipur. He said people are suffering, basic services are on the verge of collapse, the impact on ordinary people is devastating. He asked when PM Modi will visit Manipur, and when Home Minister Amit Shah will apprise the House of steps being taken to tackle the situation.
Amid a ruckus, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is taking requisite steps to over the Manipur situation.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday (December 11) passed a bill to amend Railway laws with the government insisting that it will not lead to the national carrier's privatisation.
Responding to a debate on the Railway Amendment bill, Railway Minister Ashiwni Vaishnaw said in the Lower House that a fake narrative was set afloat that the amendment would privatise railways.
"Their (opposition) fake narrative on Constitution has failed... now this will also fall flat," he asserted.
The Bill was passed by a voice vote after a debate which could not be held earlier due to frequent disruptions of House proceedings during the last week.
"A few members have said the Bill will lead to privatisation of railways, an attempt has been made to set a fake narrative. I want to appeal to them with all sincerity not to do this, their one fake narrative about the Constitution has already failed," Vaishnaw said.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 which seeks to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the previous Parliament session.
Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan said, "I fully support what the LoP has said. The chairman has completely cast aside the rules of procedure of the House and anything the Opposition says is met with just one line from the Chair - nothing will go on record. It is the chairman who has created a situation that leaves us with no option but to bring this resolution."
RJD MP Manoj Jha said, "This issue is not about an individual but about restoring the dignity of Parliament. There is an attempt to invisibilise the Opposition. The kind of language that the Treasury and the Chair use for Opposition MPs makes me wonder if this damage in Parliamentary discourse will ever be undone."
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s MP Sanjay Raut said, "We are all together with only one goal - to save the Constitution and democracy. I have seen 4 chairmen in the years since I first became a Rajya Sabha member. But the way the current chairman runs the House is most unconstitutional. The chairman himself provokes disruptions by the government side and then doesn't allow the Opposition to speak."
At the joint press conference addressed the INDIA bloc leaders, Trinamool Congress MP Nadimul Haque said, "We agree with everything the LoP has said and we support this motion because of the partisan behaviour of the chairman."
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said, "There is a blatant attack on democracy from the government and the Rajya Sabha chairman is helping the government. In the past, whenever the LoP wished to speak, he used to be given a chance. But now, when he wishes to speak, the Chair doesn't allow him or his mic is switched off.
The sansad TV also telecasts only what the government side wants to say, while the Opposition is blacked out. Now the government has resorted to making personal attacks at individual MPs, they did so yesterday against Rahul Gandhi, the LoP in the Lok Sabha, and today against Sonia Gandhi. But all of it was allowed to go on the record in complete violation of the rules.
Democracy is in peril. The ruling party is doing whatever it wishes to do and the Chair is supporting it. We have no other option, we have tolerated enough and it is this compulsion that has forced us to bring this resolution."
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the chairman of the Rajya Sabha of openly encouraging and provoking the government to make outrageous remarks against the Opposition.
"When adjournment notices are submitted by Opposition MPs, the Chair rejects them and doesn't let them speak. But when the Treasury side gives such notices, he rejects them and then allows the MPs who have moved the notice to speak on the subject.
Whenever the Leader of the House wishes to speak, he is allowed to speak. But when I, as Leader of Opposition, wish to speak as is my right, I am denied permission or the Chair doesn't bring the House to order or adjourns the House.
We are fed up of all this and this is why, after thorough consideration and with the sole purpose of safeguarding the Constitution and protecting the integrity of our democracy that we have brought this motion."
Mallikarjun Kharge continued speaking at the joint press conference of the INDIA bloc leaders, "Normally, the Opposition seeks protection from the Chair, but who will protect the Opposition if the Chair decides to act as the spokesman of the government. It is a case of the fence eating the field.
Whenever the Opposition asks a question from the government, the chairman acts as a shield for the government even before the government can respond.
We don't have any personal fight, enmity, or differences with the chairman. But we have had to take this step, after much deliberation, to protect the Constitution and our democracy."