NEW DELHI: The winter session of Parliament, adjourned sine die on Friday, will be remembered as one of the most turbulent in recent years, marked by disruptions, protests, and a steep decline in productivity.
Despite the chaos, the session saw the introduction of the “One Nation, One Election” bills and a two-day debate on the 75th anniversary of the Constitution. However, the Houses functioned far below capacity, with the Lok Sabha operating for only 57% and the Rajya Sabha for just 43% of their scheduled time as of December 18.
No Valedictory Speech from Speaker Om Birla
The acrimony reached a point where Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla broke tradition by skipping his customary valedictory speech. Instead, he issued a stern warning to MPs amidst sloganeering by opposition members.
“Do not resort to demonstrations or protests at any gate or within the Parliament premises. Otherwise, the House will take serious action,” Birla said before adjourning the session. His remarks came just before Vande Mataram was played to signify the session’s close.
Opposition Boycotts Speaker’s Tea
Tensions were evident as opposition leaders boycotted the Speaker’s traditional valedictory tea, resulting in no group photograph being released by the secretariat. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and other NDA leaders met in Birla’s chamber after adjournment.
Lowest Legislative Output in Recent History
Discord between the treasury and opposition benches led to minimal legislative output. Only one bill—the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak—was passed in the first six months of the 18th Lok Sabha, marking the lowest productivity in six terms, according to PRS Legislative Research.
The question hour was particularly affected. In the Rajya Sabha, it functioned on only four out of 19 days, while in the Lok Sabha, it lasted beyond 10 minutes on just eight of 20 days. No private members’ business was conducted in the Lok Sabha, and only one resolution was discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
Clashes and Criticism of Partisanship
The session’s lowest point came on Thursday, with physical altercations between MPs from rival parties. The clashes led to two BJP MPs being hospitalized and an FIR filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, in his closing remarks, urged members to transcend political differences and restore dignity to parliamentary proceedings, even as opposition parties accused him of partisanship.
A Glimpse of Positivity Amid Turmoil
Amidst the turmoil, the highlight of the session was a two-day discussion on the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India.” However, the overall inefficiency and discord cast a long shadow over the proceedings, with calls for greater decorum and cooperation going forward.
