Parliament adjourned amid Oppn protests over Adani bribery row, other issues
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Photo: PTI
New Delhi: Proceedings in both houses of Parliament came to a halt on Wednesday due to opposition members' protests over the Adani Bribery scandal, recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, and other issues.
Lok Sabha proceedings were initially adjourned till noon, then until Thursday, as opposition members, including those from Congress, objected and attempted to raise numerous issues at the start of the session.
Some Congress and Samajwadi Party members were in the Well, while other opposition members stood in the aisle shouting slogans.
The opposition members wanted to talk about the Adani case and the recent violence in Sambhal, where five people were killed and several others, including police, were injured after demonstrators clashed with security forces near a mosque over a resumed survey, TNIE reported.
Speaker Om Birla asked the opposition members to allow the Question Hour and stated they could address their concerns later. Amidst the din, one question was raised.
However, protests continued, and the proceedings, which lasted roughly six minutes, were adjourned till midday. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Wednesday as opposition members insisted on a debate of numerous matters, including bribery claims against the Adani Group.
The proceedings were momentarily adjourned in the morning session due to opposition protest, and when the House reconvened at 11.30 a.m., the scenes were identical. This caused Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to adjourn the proceedings for the day, citing the "House is not in order.”
The trouble began after Dhankhar rejected 18 notices under House Rule 267 to pause planned business and address the issues raised in the notices.
The notices related to the demand for the 'constitution of a JPC to investigate the alleged misconduct, including corruption, bribery, financial irregularities of the Adani Group in connivance with other authorities', violence in Sambhal and rising incidents of crime in the national capital.
"Upper House needs to reflect and follow well-established traditions that ruling of the Chair requires reference and not cause differences. I have, in detail, given reasons why, in these situations, notices are not being accepted," Dhankhar said while rejecting the notices.
On Monday, Parliament proceedings were adjourned till today after opposition parties attempted to raise the matter of Adani's indictment.
The US Department of Justice has charged Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and another key executive, Vneet Jaain, with participating in an alleged scheme to pay USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials in order to win contracts for the supply of solar electricity that would generate a USD 2 billion profit over 20 years.
The Adani Group stated on Wednesday that neither Gautam Adani nor his nephew Sagar were charged with a violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the alleged bribery case.
