Stormy monsoon session of Parliament comes to an end
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha’s monsoon session concluded on Thursday, marked by relentless Opposition protests over critical issues like the NEET paper leak and police action on students, yet saw the passage of several key bills without extensive debate.
Key issues raised by the Opposition included the NEET paper leak, alleged theft of Ram temple donations, and police action against protesting students. Despite disruptions, 12 bills were passed, with only two undergoing debates highlighting a lack of parliamentary discussion.
As soon as the House met for the day, all six stanzas of the national song were played following which Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House sine die. Birla did not read out the usual valedictory address in which he highlights the performance and productivity of the Lok Sabha during the session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were present when the House met for a brief while. During the session, Birla has repeatedly asked Opposition members to participate in debate, but the opposition had continued with its protests, forcing repeated adjournments. On Thursday, too, the opposition raised slogans against the government.
The session began on July 20 and has been witnessing vociferous protest by the Opposition earlier over the NEET paper leak issue and alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Later the opposition demanded a response from Home Minister Amit Shah over the police crackdown on students at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20. The students were protesting against the NEET paper leak and seeking accountability in the education system.
Out of the 12 bills passed, debate could only take place on two, while the others were passed without a discussion. The bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law saw an elaborate discussion lasting 10 hours.
During the consideration of the bill to make insult to national song Vanda Mataram a punishable offence, only two members spoke in a symbolic debate amid noisy protests.
The Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Amendment Bill, which had become a sticking point between the government and the opposition over some of its provisions, was on Wednesday referred to a joint committee of Parliament for threadbare discussions.
The Bill was introduced in the budget session but was not moved for consideration and passage as several religious organisations had opposed it, including those from Kerala where assembly polls were due in April.
As the Opposition questioned the absence of Shah from the House proceedings, he hit back by urging Speaker Birla on Wednesday to consult the opposition for a debate on students’ protests over the NEET paper-leak issue and said he is ready to answer all questions in the House.