Parliament Adjourned till Dec 2 as Opposition Protests Persist Over Adani and Other Issues

Parliament has been adjourned until December 2, as opposition MPs continued their protests, failing to conduct substantial business for the fourth consecutive day. The proceedings have stalled since the start of the Winter Session, with opposition parties raising concerns over the Adani issue and violence in Manipur and Sambhal.

Initially, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned, during which Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed his discontent, stating that the ongoing disruptions are not “public-centric.” He remarked, “This cannot be appreciated. We have become a laughing stock, and parliament disruptions are in public distaste. We are creating a very bad precedent. Our actions are not public-centric. We are getting into irrelevance.” Dhankhar highlighted that Rule 267 is being misused as a tool for disruption and expressed his deep anguish and regret over the interruption of the House’s normal business.

Opposition members have been demanding discussions on the Adani issue

Opposition members have been persistently demanding discussions on the Adani issue, the violence in Sambhal, and the situation in Manipur, resorting to slogan-shouting within Parliament. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the central government, questioning why it is not resisting the adjournments. He stated, “Yet another day of a washout in the Parliament on the Modani issue. Both Houses got adjourned today after only a few minutes. The big mystery is why the Govt is not resisting the adjournments. On the contrary, the government is facilitating the aggression of the INDIA parties on Modani especially – as also on Manipur, Sambhal, and Delhi’s law and order. Clearly, it has much to feel defensive and apologetic about,” Ramesh posted on X.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi urged the government to clarify which issues it intends to address and when. He remarked, “Did the government say that there will be a discussion on Adani, Manipur, Sambhal, China, and foreign policy? Nothing has come from the government. They have neither clarified the subject nor the date. The day they clarify the subject and the date, we will be able to run the House. But we are seeing a new arrogance in the government.”

Congress MP Kumari Selja echoed the sentiment, stating that the government seems disinterested in running the House. “They don’t want discussion. We want discussion, but they don’t listen to or take the opposition into confidence. We want the House to function. We are demanding a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) on the Adani issue, but they don’t want it,” Selja said.

Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram added, “I hope the government is large-hearted and allows the opposition the space to raise issues of importance. It’s incumbent that the government finds a way in which the opposition can have its say and the government can have its way. The government is in a position to give, and the government must give…”

In response to the ongoing controversies, the Adani Group has denied the bribery allegations made against it in the United States. Adani Green Energy Ltd stated that media reports claiming that certain directors, including Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vineet Jaain, have been charged with violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) are incorrect.

The first session of the winter Parliament began on November 25, but both Houses have been adjourned early due to disruptions. The winter session is scheduled to continue until December 20.