New Delhi: The Monsoon Session of Parliament is now in its final phase. Monday saw significant uproar in Parliament right from the morning. The opposition fiercely targeted the central government, raising issues ranging from the theft of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir to concerns affecting students.
Due to the escalating commotion, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla initially adjourned the House until 12:00 PM. Following continued uproar, the decision was subsequently made to adjourn the Lok Sabha until 2:00 PM.
If the opposition parties maintain this stance, there is little hope for the Lok Sabha to function today. A major standoff between the central government and the opposition is evident in Parliament. The government intends to introduce certain bills, but securing opposition agreement on them appears highly unlikely.
SP Chief Questions Central Government’s Intentions
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has questioned the intentions of the central government. Addressing the deadlock over the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the FCRA Bill, he stated, “The public elects and sends us here to question the government; that is the role of the opposition in a democracy.” He further asked why the government refuses to answer questions.
He questioned why the government is shying away from questions, noting that lathi-charges occurred and tear gas shells were fired. Students were hospitalised, and cases are still registered against youths in Allahabad—including many who were not even involved in the protests. He pointed out that the government had previously assured that no cases would be filed and no one would be harassed. “In such a situation, whom should we ask? he asked. He also mentioned the FCRA bill, noting that the BJP had previously assured that Indian funds would not flow abroad.
Suspense Remains Over Opposition’s Stance on Delimitation Bill
It remains unclear whether opposition parties will support the Delimitation Bill if the central government introduces it. There is still suspense surrounding this matter; the likelihood of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party supporting the Delimitation Bill appears negligible. DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin stated that they had not supported the delimitation bill in the past and would not support it this time either.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal has extended its support to the delimitation proposal, which includes women’s reservation and a 50 per cent increase in seats for the states. Additionally, Supriya Sule of the NCP-SP said that a decision would be taken only after consulting alliance partners once the bill is introduced.
