The opposition Congress and ruling BJP in Gujarat clashed on Sunday over the frequent disruptions during the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament, each party blaming the other for the impasse.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil accused the ruling BJP of creating disturbances, while BJP’s Lok Sabha MP and Gujarat president CR Paatil countered the allegations, placing the blame squarely on Congress.
“We wanted to discuss some issues, but the ruling party itself made noise, raised slogans, and did not allow Parliament to function for days. This has never happened before,” Gohil said at a press conference in Vadodara, adding that it was the government’s actions that caused the disruptions.
In response, Paatil issued a video statement, saying that clips of the live telecast of Parliament’s proceedings were evidence enough to show that Congress was responsible for the disruptions.
“The Congress leader alleged that the ruling party did not allow Parliament to function properly. People across the country have witnessed the live telecast of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings and seen how Congress leaders climbed onto the Speaker’s dias and the way they acted,” Paatil said.
He further claimed that Congress had obstructed every session, preventing question-and-answer sessions from taking place, and said there was video evidence to support his claims.
“Congress should therefore stop misleading people to save its leaders. What its importance is in the eyes of the people and what kind of feelings people have for them are clear from the results in Haryana and Maharashtra (polls),” Paatil added.
Gohil, in turn, claimed it was the first time that BJP MPs had physically intervened during an opposition protest in Parliament. He alleged that BJP MPs had obstructed Congress MPs, even resorting to physical violence.
“If you look at the facts, you will find that when it was time for Parliament (proceedings), the BJP MPs stopped the Congress MPs on their way and attacked them. They pushed and shoved, and even (Mallikarjun) Kharge saheb was pushed,” Gohil said.
He also defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had been wrongly accused by a BJP MP of hurting him during the scuffle.
The dispute escalated on Thursday, when BJP MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were injured following a scuffle between opposition and ruling party MPs inside Parliament. The BJP has accused Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, of physical assault and inciting the violence.
According to PRS Legislative Research, a think tank that monitors Indian legislatures, the Lok Sabha functioned for just 52 per cent of its scheduled time during the Winter Session, while the Rajya Sabha operated for only 39 per cent of its scheduled time.
The session was marred by continuous disruptions, with opposition parties raising issues ranging from the Adani controversy to allegations of Congress’ ties with billionaire George Soros, and Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on Dr B R Ambedkar.
PRS data also revealed that the Lok Sabha’s Question Hour was curtailed for more than 10 minutes on 12 out of 20 days and multiple adjournment motions were rejected. On the final day of the session, both Houses were adjourned without transacting any substantial business amid ongoing protests from the opposition.
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