The Winter Session of Parliament continued to see disruptions as the Congress and Trinamool Congress, key allies in the INDIA bloc, expressed divergent views on the ongoing stalemate. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Opposition’s demand for the Lok Sabha to function and hold discussions, including a debate on the Constitution's 75th adoption anniversary and allegations against the Adani Group. However, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee criticized both the BJP and Congress, accusing them of monopolizing proceedings and sidelining smaller parties.
Rahul Gandhi emphasized the Congress's focus on ensuring parliamentary debates, despite BJP accusations against him. He alleged that the ruling party was attempting to distract from the Adani bribery issue, a matter the Opposition insists on discussing. Gandhi also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging the removal of remarks made by BJP MPs that he termed derogatory.
In contrast, Kalyan Banerjee claimed that smaller parties were not given adequate opportunities to speak, alleging a collaborative dominance by the BJP and Congress over the House’s functioning. This stance highlights the rift within the INDIA bloc regarding parliamentary strategy.
Despite the disruptions, a discussion on the Constitution’s adoption is scheduled for December 13-14, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to respond. Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs extended symbolic gestures, offering roses and the national flag to BJP members in a bid to promote cooperation.
Meanwhile, Congress escalated its protest against remarks by BJP MPs, including Nishikant Dubey and Sambit Patra, who accused Rahul Gandhi of colluding with foreign entities like George Soros to destabilize India. The Congress filed a privilege motion and demanded the expunging of these allegations, which it views as baseless and inflammatory.
The ongoing disruptions underline the challenges in maintaining Opposition unity and addressing pressing national issues within a polarized parliamentary environment.
