House adjourned over Maha uproar
Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Monday after the Congress and other opposition parties stalled functioning of the House over the political developments in Maharashtra.
As soon as the Rajya Sabha met at 2 pm, the Congress, Left, DMK and other Opposition members were up on their feet demanding discussion on the events in Maharashtra. Deputy chairman Harivansh said discussion on the matter cannot be taken up as the matter is sub-judice. Citing chairman M Venkaiah Naidu’s statement earlier in the day, he said the House can discuss President’s rule being imposed or revoked in a state only when a motion to that effect is brought before it. “Honourable chairman has already clarified on the matter, so I cannot allow a discussion regarding the matter,” Harivansh said.
In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi referred to the day’s developments in Maharashtra as the “murder of democracy”.
Gandhi set the tone for the protests in the morning when he refused to ask a supplementary question during Lok Sabha Question Hour at 11 am, saying there was no point in doing so as “democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra”.
“There is no point in me asking the question as democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra,” he said amid the din.
As Congress members, carrying placards, raised slogans, what invited Speaker Om Birla’s ire was a big banner that two MPs held across the Well.
“Stop murder of democracy” was written on the black banner while there were messages such as “save Constitution” and “save democracy” on the placards.
After his warnings went unheeded, the speaker ordered removal of two Congress members -- Hibi Eden and TN Prathapan — who were holding the banner, by marshals.
However, the two MPs were joined by other Congress members in resisting their eviction from the House and were seen jostling with the marshals.
Indicating stringent action against the Congress MPs who stormed the Well of the lower house, speaker Om Birla said such behaviour is “unacceptable” and will not be “tolerated”.
According to a ruling given by the Rajya Sabha chairman on April 24, 1989, the role of the governor in relation to a proclamation issued by the President under Article 356 can only be discussed when such a proclamation is laid before the House and becomes its property, he added.
“In the instant case of Maharashtra, the proclamation in question is still to be laid on the table of the House. However, as per media reports, the issuance of the proclamation is challenged in the Supreme Court and as such the matter becomes subjudice,” Harivansh said.
Congress members asked that if the matter was sub-judice, why Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was allowed to speak on the matter in the House.
In the morning session, Naqvi had said that the governor’s decision could be discussed only through a substantive motion and no such motion has been brought by the Opposition.
He had alleged that the Congress, Shiv Sena and the NCP were trying to “hijack” democracy in Maharashtra through “jugad”.
Amid the din, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur introduced a proposal to withdraw the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019, which was approved by the House.
Amid the sloganeering in the Lok Sabha, four bills, including the one to amend the SPG Act, were introduced.
WOMEN CONG LEADERS ALLEGE MANHANDLING
Two Congress women lawmakers, Remya Haridas and S. Jothimani, on Monday lodged a complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the security staff of the House , accusing them of “manhandling” them while they were protesting “peacefully” during proceedings.