In a never-seen-before act in the well of the Lok Sabha, Congress MPs on Tuesday held a protest with a difference, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was conducting Zero Hour proceedings. The government later condemned the protest as “shameful” and in violation of the Chair’s ruling.
Led by newly elected MP from Punjab, Sunil Kumar Jakhar, Congress MPs began a parallel mock Zero Hour of sorts in the well of the House.
Since morning, the MPs had been protesting over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegation earlier this month, that his predecessor Manmohan Singh was conspiring with Pakistan to defeat the BJP in Gujarat.
The ‘mock’ proceedings were conducted by Haryana Congress member Deepender Hooda, and saw MPs such as Ravninder Bittu, Sushmita Dev, Gaurav Gogoi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaking on the issue by turn. And each of them made it a point to thank the Speaker “for giving an opportunity”.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former party chief Sonia Gandhi seemed caught unawares by the impromptu session, which was held in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Earlier in the day, the Speaker disallowed Congress MPs from raising the issue, saying that whatever had happened in an election campaign should not be used to disrupt the proceedings. “The elections are over and the results are out. I cannot allow you to raise the issue here,” she said.
The resultant din led to an adjournment, but the Congress continued with its protests. Following the mock session, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge tried to speak again but was disallowed, after which all the party MPs staged a walkout.
Reacting to this later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar flayed the opposition party, terming its conduct “shameful and condemnable”.
“They entered the well, which is itself condemnable. They then tried to conduct mock proceedings. One senior Congress leader after another kept speaking, defying the Chair. The entire House condemns it,” he said. “God give them good sense.”