As she began addressing the House, Bachchan extended greetings on the occasion of Ram Navami. However, her speech was soon interrupted by members from the opposite benches, prompting a sharp reaction. “Bacche baith jao” (sit down, child), she remarked, visibly irritated by the disturbance.
Expressing her frustration, Bachchan emphasized the need for attention while a member is speaking. “If someone starts talking, the attention will divert towards them. If I am talking, your attention should be towards me,” she told the Chair.
The situation escalated when she questioned the presiding officer, Dr. Dinesh Sharma, over the allocation of her speaking time. “How can you cut my time? I’ll go to the Well,” she said, referring to the central area of the House often used by protesting members.
Despite the Chair urging members to maintain order and asking Bachchan to stay on topic, interruptions continued. At one point, when reminded that she was losing time, she asserted, “You cannot take my time,” reiterating her displeasure.
Beyond the heated exchange, Bachchan also raised concerns about the Transgender Persons (Amendment) Bill itself. She questioned the urgency behind introducing the legislation and argued that it required more thorough examination.
“Why can’t it be examined with the depth and care it deserves?” she asked, urging the government to withdraw the bill and reconsider it during the Monsoon session.
Highlighting historical perspectives, Bachchan noted that transgender individuals once held respected roles in royal households, particularly in ensuring the safety of women. “They were considered safe, but today suddenly the government is feeling very unsafe with their presence,” she remarked.
The debate saw strong opposition from several MPs, who echoed similar concerns and called for the bill to be either withdrawn or referred to a select committee for detailed scrutiny.
