Winter Session Concludes Today Amidst Police Case Against Rahul Gandhi: 10 Points

 

Winter Session Concludes Today Amidst Police Case Against Rahul Gandhi: 10 Points

BJP legislators Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput experienced injuries amid simultaneous demonstrations from both Treasury and Opposition benches just outside the parliament. The Winter Session of Parliament is set to conclude today, encapsulating four weeks filled with intense drama, sharp exchanges, and even allegations of 'attempt to murder' directed at the Opposition, with an additional wave of protests anticipated on the final day.

It is expected that the government will introduce the 'One Nation, One Election' bill today, aiming to create a Joint Parliamentary Committee consisting of 27 Lok Sabha members and 12 Rajya Sabha members, as the Winter Session wraps up on a tumultuous note.

In recent weeks, continuous interruptions and demonstrations have been evident, with the latest deadlock leading to a police case against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, following a complaint lodged by the BJP concerning two of its members sustaining injuries during a protest at the Parliament's Makar Dwar.

The Congress party—which has lodged its own complaint claiming that party leader Mallikarjun Kharge was harmed after being pushed by BJP members—has characterized the case against Mr. Gandhi as a "badge of honour." Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal remarked, "A case against him for upholding Babasaheb's legacy is a badge of honour."

BJP members Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, who are currently hospitalized, sustained injuries during concurrent protests emanating from the Treasury and Opposition sides outside the parliament.

These demonstrations were triggered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks in the Rajya Sabha, asserting that mentioning BR Ambedkar's name had become a "fashion"—an assertion deemed "insulting" by the Opposition. Mr. Shah stated, "It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Had they invoked God's name so often, they would have secured a place in heaven."

While Mr. Shah has accused the Opposition of misrepresenting facts and utilizing edited footage, the Congress and Trinamool Congress have initiated a privilege motion against him, demanding his resignation.

Mr. Shah has denied any intention to resign, claiming it would not resolve the issues faced by the Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has supported him, alleging that the Congress employs "malicious falsehoods to conceal their misdeeds."

The Congress has further accused the BJP of instigating the violence as a distraction from the Ambedkar controversy. In response to these accusations, the BJP has charged the Opposition with showing disrespect towards the architect of the Constitution.

Sources indicate that following yesterday’s turmoil, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has implemented stringent guidelines prohibiting protests at any gates of the Parliament House. He has also instructed the MPs to refrain from obstructing these entrances.

Throughout the Winter Session, the Congress has struggled to obtain support from its allies—Trinamool and Samajwadi Party—concerning its major agendas. Both parties advocated for a functioning parliament, distancing themselves from the Congress regarding the Adani controversy and the claims linking George Soros to the BJP.