NEW DELHI: As some opposition parties created ruckus on Thursday in the Lok Sabha like any other day since July 19 during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, speaker Om Birla once again took exception to the disruption of business in the House by some opposition parties and cautioned them. This was the fourth consecutive day this week that the speaker has admonished the MPs who were responsible for unruly behaviour.
Soon after the Lok Sabha met for Question Hour at 11 am, some opposition MPs entered the Well of the House. They were shouting slogans and waving placards demanding discussion on the Pegasus spyware issue, repeal of the three farm laws and price rise, particularly of the petroleum products.
Birla told these opposition MPs to maintain order and return to their seats. When his repeated requests went unheeded, he issued a caution.
He said the Question Hour was being taken up to discuss important issues facing the nation. This is when accountability of the government is fixed, he added.
Speaker Birla said, “You all do hard work to ask questions but finally do not do so (in the House). Instead you all indulge in slogan-shouting. This is against the parliamentary norms and decorum.”
He asked the protesting MPs to emulate their counterparts who did not come to the Well. “People want Parliament to run as per the norms and traditions. They repeatedly ask me why is the House not running while crores of rupees are being spent on it.”
Birla further said, “You all are honourable and must also behave like honourable members,” and asked them to return to their respective seats and allow the Question Hour to proceed.
However, with the opposition not yielding, Birla adjourned the House till 2 pm.
On Monday, he expressed his anguish over the business in the Lower House getting affected due to the ruckus being created by the opposition.
Admonishing the MPs, Birla said crores of rupees of the public have got wasted due to the hindrance in the conduct of business of the Lok Sabha.
He said the House is meant for putting forth the issues and needs of the people.
The speaker's remarks came after the opposition reached the Well and created pandemonium in the Lower House to demand discussion on issues such as the Pegasus spyware and the three farm laws. This forced the speaker to adjourn the House for a while in the morning.
Birla said, "You all are honourable members of the House. Your behaviour and conduct should provide direction to the country and the society at large."
He said acts like sloganeering, shouting and waving of placards were not proper for the dignity of the House and constitutional traditions.
On Tuesday, he objected to the opposition again for causing pandemonium in the house and forcing multiple adjournments every day.
He said several issues pertaining to the farmers were discussed during Question Hour. "I wanted you all to ask the agriculture minister on the subject. However, the opposition members creating ruckus do not want to discuss issues related to the farmers," he said.
Before adjourning the House for the first time on Tuesday, Birla lamented the behaviour of the opposition MPs led by the Congress and said the house belonged to them and it was up to them to maintain its respect and dignity.
He reminded the protesting MPs that the people of the country had elected them to the Lower House to convey their problems and also those of the farmers.
"However," he said, "instead of putting forth their issues and problems, you all are shouting slogans and waving placards, which is improper".
It was the same scene on Wednesday. The opposition MPs entered into the Well of the House. They blocked the chair's view whenever the camera moved to capture visuals of the speaker.
On such repeated acts, Birla cautioned the unruly MPs before adjourning the House for 15 minutes.
Before Birla, Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had issued a stern warning on July 29 and given similar advice to the members of the Upper House.
Vice-President Naidu had issued a stern warning to the opposition MPs who were creating ruckus and not allowing business to be conducted in the Upper House of Parliament.
Expressing serious concern over the conduct of some MPs who were protesting, he said such behaviour lowered the dignity and prestige of the House.
"It was brought to my notice that some members are whistling in the House. 'Seeti baja rahe hai apni purani aadat se' (whistling because of an old habit). This is a House," Naidu said.
"Secondly, some members are putting their hands on the shoulders of the marshals. I do not know what prompted them."
Also, some members carrying placards are standing in front of the ministers, blocking their view, he said.
"There are two ways (to deal with this) - one, ignore this and allow this to become a bazaar (market). 'Har ek apna seeti bajata rahe, bajate raho' (everyone can whistle)," Naidu said. "Second, taking action."
