The Parliament's Winter Session concluded on a turbulent note on Friday, as both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die following a political furore over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
The contentious comments led to acrimonious exchanges between the Opposition and ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with members trading barbs and accusations, ultimately stalling proceedings in both Houses.
The Lok Sabha began its day amidst protests from Opposition parties, who gathered at the gates of Parliament, demanding an apology and resignation from Shah.
Speaker Om Birla urged decorum, requesting members to refrain from disruptive activities. Despite this, Union Minister Arjun Singh Meghwal managed to lay the groundwork for a Bill that proposes amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and related legislations, referring the matter to a Joint Parliamentary Committee comprising 27 members.
Simultaneously, chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned initially until noon after Opposition members raised vociferous objections.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, in an attempt to resolve the impasse, convened a meeting with Leader of the House J.P. Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
However, the session resumed only briefly, with Dhankhar delivering his valedictory remarks before adjourning the House sine die.
Reflecting on the Winter Session, Dhankhar expressed dismay at the limited productivity.
“The Rajya Sabha functioned for only 43 hours, achieving merely 40% productivity. Persistent disruptions are steadily eroding public trust in our democratic institutions,” he stated. “As Parliamentarians, we are drawing severe criticism from the people of India. And rightfully so.”
The political discord reached a crescendo on Thursday when a scuffle reportedly broke out near the Parliament complex. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused BJP MPs of obstructing him and other Opposition members from entering the premises.
The BJP, in turn, alleged that Gandhi had assaulted two of their MPs. The incident escalated tensions, prompting heated reactions from both sides.
Adding to the controversy, Congress MP Jebi Mather climbed atop the ‘Makar Dwar’ in the Parliament complex as part of the INDIA bloc’s protest. NDA members countered by holding placards, demanding an apology from the Congress for allegedly insulting Dr Ambedkar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Shah, accusing the Congress of spreading falsehoods about Ambedkar’s legacy. “Congress’s lies cannot hide its insults to Ambedkar,” the Prime Minister asserted.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien criticised Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for allegedly monopolising the House’s limited time.
“Of the 43 hours the Rajya Sabha functioned, the Chairman spoke for four and a half hours, nearly 30% of the time. Did Jagdeep Dhankhar set a new record in Parliament?” O’Brien remarked, attributing the observation to data up to December 18.
The Opposition bloc also boycotted the customary tea meeting hosted by the Lok Sabha Speaker, further underscoring the deteriorating relations between the two sides.
As the Winter Session—coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Constitution—came to a close, Dhankhar’s parting words carried a poignant critique.
“While the celebration of Samvidhan Diwas in the historic Samvidhan Sadan was meant to reaffirm our democratic values, our actions in this House tell a different story,” he lamented.
With productivity in both Houses significantly compromised and public trust in democratic institutions at stake, the political impasse remains unresolved. As the dust settles on a contentious Winter Session, the road ahead appears fraught with challenges for India’s parliamentary democracy.
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