New Delhi, Mar 18: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Tuesday amid noisy protests by opposition members seeking to ask questions on the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Maha Kumbh.
The proceedings were earlier adjourned till 1 pm, shortly after Modi made his statement and the opposition members rose in their seats in protest, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi apparently urging Speaker Om Birla to allow the opposition members to speak.
They also demanded the inclusion of the stampede deaths in the statement.
Members of the Congress, TMC and other opposition parties then stormed the Well, raising slogans, while Samajwadi Party members staged a walkout in protest.
Parliamentary sources said the opposition parties demanded a discussion on the Maha Kumbh so that their members could share their views on the subject. They had demanded a discussion on the Maha Kumbh at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the House.
As many as 30 pilgrims were killed and 60 injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh on January 29.
When the House reassembled, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded to a debate on demands for grants of his ministry.
When the House took up the debate on demands for grants for the Jal Shakti ministry, the opposition members continued protesting in the Well, forcing the chair to adjourn the proceedings for the day.
The discussion on demands for grants of the Jal Shakti ministry was postponed to Wednesday by the chair.
LoP should be allowed to speak in House but not given permission in ‘new India’: Rahul
As the Lok Sabha was briefly adjourned amid opposition protests after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the Mahakumbh, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the LoP should be allowed to speak according to the democratic structure but is not given permission in “new India”.
Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament that he also wanted to speak in the House on the issue and pointed out at that PM Modi should have paid homage to those who lost their lives in the January 29 stampede at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.
Many opposition members were on their feet protesting after the prime minister spoke.
“I wanted to support what he was saying. Kumbh is our tradition, history and culture. There was also a complaint that he did not pay homage to those who lost their lives (in the stampede in the Mahakumbh),” Gandhi said.
“The other thing I wanted to say is that the youth that went to the Kumbh need another thing from the PM, they need employment. The prime minister should speak on employment,” the Congress leader said.
Asked if he was not allowed to speak, Gandhi said, “We are not allowed to speak. According to the democratic structure, the LoP should be permitted to speak, but is not given permission, but this is new India.”
Congress’ Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the opposition should have been allowed to speak in the House.
“Opposition also has its sentiments on it and they should not have had any objection to them airing their views,” she said.
Describing the Mahakumbh as an important milestone, Modi told the Lok Sabha that the event was a befitting response to those who questioned India’s capability to organise such a large congregation.
He said the entire world witnessed the grandeur of India during the Mahakumbh and the religious gathering reflected the spirit of rising India. (PTI)
