both-houses-adjourned-over-onoe-bill-shah-s-remarks

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned until 2 p.m. on Wednesday following heated protests over the contentious 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill and remarks made by Home Minister Amit Shah on Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

The winter session of Parliament, already witnessing significant disruptions, faced yet another day of turmoil. In the Lok Sabha, opposition members, led by the Congress, demanded an apology from Shah over his statements, delivered during the constitutional debate in the Rajya Sabha.

Calls for apology in Lok Sabha

In the Lok Sabha, Congress members vociferously pressed for Shah to retract his remarks.

 

The party termed the remarks an insult to Dr Ambedkar, regarded as the architect of the Indian Constitution, and demanded an unreserved apology from the Home Minister.

 

Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House after the protests made proceedings untenable.

Protests in Rajya Sabha

Simultaneously, the Rajya Sabha echoed with opposition protests, with members accusing Shah of demeaning Ambedkar’s legacy.

बाबासाहेब हम सबके लिए प्रातः वंदनीय, सदैव आदरणीय और अनुकरणीय हैं।
For all of us, he is highly respected, ever respected & it is delightful that attention is being paid to his teaching, preaching & nurturing impact he left wherever he went, within country or abroad -@VPIndia in RS pic.twitter.com/S72SsmQ1KM

— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) December 18, 2024

Proceedings were disrupted as the opposition sought to hold the government accountable for what they perceived as an affront to the revered leader.

Also read:https://newsarenaindia.com/nation/ls-adjourned-amid-row-over-shah-s-remarks-on-ambedkar/31057

 

#WinterSession2024

लोकसभा की कार्यवाही शुरू होने के कुछ मिनट बाद ही विपक्षी सदस्यों के हंगामे के कारण दोपहर 2 बजे तक के लिए स्थगित कर दी गई। @ombirlakota @LokSabhaSectt @loksabhaspeaker pic.twitter.com/kolhxVpF9s

— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) December 18, 2024

Shah’s controversial remarks

On Tuesday, during a debate on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha, Shah commented, “Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they took God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven).”

The statement, which Shah appeared to make in the context of excessive political invocation of Ambedkar's name, drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, who accused the BJP of hypocrisy.

Wider criticism of Nehru’s legacy

During the debate, Shah also criticised the Congress and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure, blaming them for policy failures and historical injustices. These remarks further inflamed tempers across the opposition benches.

The ONOE Bill, another focal point of discord, continues to divide the ruling and opposition camps, adding to the session’s chaos.