New Delhi: The winter session of Parliament adjourned indefinitely on Friday with several unfinished tasks. The 25-day session saw a mix of debates, controversies and disruptions.
This session was marked by constant uproar and clashes, overshadowing meaningful legislative work. Key discussions during the session revolved around the Constitution, but incidents of jostling and “handbag politics” also took place.
Constitution takes center stage
For two days, the Constitution was the focal point of debates in both Houses. Leaders from the ruling party and the opposition shared their views, with BJP targeting the Congress on constitutional matters. Historical figures such as Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were frequently mentioned during discussions. BJP criticized Congress for its role during the Emergency, accusing it of undermining democratic principles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated in the debate, highlighting instances from history where Congress allegedly misused constitutional provisions. The PM accused Indira Gandhi of imposing an Emergency to secure her position, during which opposition leaders were jailed.
The debate on the Constitution also saw protests over alleged disrespect towards Ambedkar. BJP MPs demonstrated against Rahul Gandhi near Gandhi statue, while opposition leaders marched from Vijay Chowk to Parliament, demanding an apology from Home Minister Amit Shah.
‘Handbag’ politics
Priyanka Gandhi became a topic of discussion during the session for her symbolic “handbag politics.” She carried printed bags supporting Hindus and Christians in Palestine and Bangladesh.
In response, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi gifted Priyanka a bag with “1984” written in red, referencing the anti-Sikh riots.
Scuffle incident
A physical altercation within Parliament premises was another major talking point. BJP MP Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were injured during the scuffle, with both requiring hospitalization.
The incident led to the filing of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, with BJP MPs accusing him of unruly behavior. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi dismissed the allegations, saying that her brother could not have been involved in physical aggression.
Parliamentary productivity
The session’s productivity raised concerns, given the cost of running Parliament. Over 25 days, 20 meetings were held in Lok Sabha and 19 in Rajya Sabha, nearly 105 hours of proceedings. Lok Sabha’s productivity stood at 54%, while the Rajya Sabha’s was even lower, at 41%.
Of the 16-17 bills scheduled for introduction, only five were tabled in the Lok Sabha and four in the Rajya Sabha. Key discussions included the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill on “One Nation, One Election,” introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The bill was sent to Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further consideration.
The Constitution discussions lasted over 15 hours in Lok Sabha, involving 62 members, and over 17 hours in the Rajya Sabha, with 80 MPs participating.
Derek O’Brien’s claim against chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien alleged that Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar dominated proceedings, speaking for about 30% of the session’s total time.
O’Brien claimed that Dhankhar spoke for nearly 4.5 hours out of the 43 hours of Rajya Sabha’s proceedings.
