Monsoon Session of Parliament: Opposition demand for discussion on SIR disrupts Houses

Indian Express

2 days ago

As parliament reconvened Monday after the Independence Day break, proceedings in both Houses were disrupted amid protests by opposition parties over electoral roll revision in Bihar, and a special discussion in Lok Sabha on the space programme, coinciding with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's return to India, ended abruptly.
Lok Sabha saw two adjournments, one till 12pm and another till 2pm, soon after business commenced. Between protests, the treasury benches introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill and the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, before proceedings got adjourned again till 2pm.
In Rajya Sabha, proceedings were adjourned till 2pm amid Opposition protests, within minutes of commencing. Later, the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, was passed in the Upper House after Opposition members walked out.
Later, a special discussion on Shubhanshu Shukla's visit to the International Space Station ended abruptly after MoS (independent charge) for Department of Space, Jitendra Singh, spoke on the Axiom-4 mission and India's achievements in the space sector.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to all members to participate in the discussion on India's scientific achievements. Initiating the discussion, Jitendra Singh said: 'India's space economy has already reached $8 billion and was projected to touch $45 billion in the next decade… India will set up its own Bharat Antriksh Station in 2035, and in 2040, an Indian astronaut will set foot on the moon,' Singh said. He added that the government spent `548 crore on Shukla's travel to the ISS, which he said, was a small amount compared to other missions globally.
Singh spoke amid protests by opposition MPs and after his speech ended, Dilip Saikia of the BJP, who was in the chair, adjourned the House. The discussion will resume on Tuesday.
Earlier, Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon following protests by the Opposition over the Bihar SIR. After the proceedings resumed, Opposition MPs gathered in the well of the House and raised 'Vote Chor, Gaddhi Chhod' slogans. Soon after the Jan Vishwas Bill was referred to a Select Committee, Sandhya Ray, who was in the chair, adjourned the House till 2pm.
In Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivansh began proceedings by reading out an obituary reference for former Nagaland Governor and BJP leader La Ganesan. Harivansh said he had received 19 notices on four subjects under Rule 267 and he did not admit any of them as they were not in adherence to rules.BJP MP Dinesh Sharma rose to speak but his intervention was drowned out by Opposition MPs. The Deputy Chairman adjourned proceedings till 2pm.