NEW DELHI: After days of disruptions due to opposition protests, proceedings in Lok Sabha started on Monday after defence minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the members to abide by the tradition and allow debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.
Making an emotional appeal to lawmakers from all parties to show respect for the President, Singh said, “Most of the members, in personal interactions, agree that traditions should not be broken… institutions should not be demeaned. Safeguarding the dignity of an institution is the responsibility of not one but all parties. Rajya Sabha has already concluded the discussion, why can’t we do it?’ Singh said.
The defence minister also said members are free to express views over subjects of their choice, including the farm laws. “Let’s move on with the healthy and vibrant tradition of our country’s democracy,” Singh said and added, “We must not forget that even the President is part of Parliament and we all should show respect to him.”
As House proceedings finally began, BJP MP from Hooghly in West Bengal Locket Chatterjee attacked the West Bengal government, citing how it has denied its people benefits of several central schemes due to political reasons. “If you want to do rajneeti (politics), do it with us and not with people,” she stressed.
“Is Jai Sri Ram a slang? Mamata government insults Ram and Sita. They (Bengal government) are obsessed with appeasement politics. They practice politics for 30%,” she said adding that BJP will not allow the state turn into “East Pakistan.” “Mamata Banerjee cheated farmers of Bengal, who have been suffering for the past 10 years but she is silent and now for politics, she sent her MPs to Singhu border,” the BJP MP said.
Earlier, while agreeing to initiate the debate, leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said the opposition only wanted that there should be debate on farmers’ issues for two-four hours.