Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Wednesday accused both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition ally Congress of causing disruptions in Parliament during the ongoing winter session. He said that the repeated adjournments of the House were due to the actions of these two major parties.
Banerjee stated, “The House is adjourned because of the Congress and the BJP. The House will continue only based on the choice of the Congress and the BJP… This is not proper.” He expressed frustration over how the proceedings were being controlled by the two parties, pointing out that parliamentary democracy should not be dictated solely by them.
Banerjee Calls for Equal Role for All Parties
Banerjee emphasized that there are many other parties in Parliament, and democracy should not be dependent on just the BJP and Congress. He remarked, “One day Congress wants to continue, and the BJP is disturbing. One day BJP is trying to continue, and the Congress is disturbing. And the rest of the parties can’t speak anywhere… The BJP is the ruling party, so they get the preference. Congress is the main opposition, so it gets the preference.”
He criticized the imbalance in parliamentary proceedings, where smaller parties are often sidelined, and larger parties dominate discussions.
Opposition Protests Over Adani and Other Issues
The disruptions in Parliament continued on Wednesday, with the Congress leading protests against the government over various issues, including the ongoing Adani bribery allegations. The Congress demanded that the government allow a discussion on the matter, which has become a central issue of contention.
As part of their protest, several opposition MPs greeted their BJP counterparts with the tricolour in one hand and a red rose in the other. They urged the ruling party to ensure that the House functions smoothly and that all pressing issues, including the Adani controversy, are addressed.
Unusual Demonstrations by Congress and Allies
This protest is the latest in a series of unique demonstrations by Congress, who have been using props like tricolours and red roses to draw attention to the Adani issue. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also participated by offering a tricolour card to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as he entered Parliament.
Other opposition leaders, including Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MPs from the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Left parties, were seen holding small tricolour cards and red roses in front of Parliament’s Makar Dwar steps, with placards bearing slogans such as “Don’t let the country be sold.”
Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Protests
The ruckus in both Houses continued, with the Rajya Sabha being adjourned for the day. The Congress remains firm in its demand for a debate on the Adani issue and has even brought a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Meanwhile, the BJP has countered by alleging links between the Gandhi family and Hungarian-American businessman George Soros, further fueling tensions in the House.
