The Opposition stood with Ambedkar posters demanding Mr Amit Shah's resignation.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die within two minutes of convening, as the Opposition continued to protest Union Home minister Amit Shah's remark on Dr BR Ambedkar. The ongoing session is set to close under the shadow of the ruling and opposition sides clashing over the remark, inside and outside the Houses.
Members of the INDIA bloc started a protest march from Vijay Chowk till the Parliament, a day after dramatic scenes played out in Parliament as the BJP protested at the Makar Dwar, while the Opposition stood with Ambedkar posters demanding Mr Shah's resignation. At the centre of the row is the minister's remark, "It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar'. If they took God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven." Two BJP MPs were hospitalised after suffering head injuries in a face-off between the opposition and NDA members.
Protests over various issues, including the Sambhal violence, Manipur situation and Congress' link with billionaire George Soros, led to proceedings being washed out on most days. The Constitution debate saw Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi's debut speech in the Lok Sabha, while in the Rajya Sabha, the opposition moved a no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Here are the Live Updates from the Winter Session on December 20:
Police To Record Statement Of 2 Injured MPs, Call Rahul Gandhi For QuestioningA day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was booked in connection with a scuffle on the Parliament premises, sources said police are likely to record the statements of the two injured MPs and may also call the opposition leader for questioning.
They said that the Delhi Police was also likely to write to the Parliament secretariat, seeking access to CCTV footage of the area where the alleged incident occurred.
An official said senior police officers may also consider transferring the case to the crime branch from the local police.
Congress' Jairam Ramesh Slams FIR Against Rahul GandhiCongress MP Jairam Ramesh slammed the BJP over the FIR filed against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accusing the ruling party of trying to distract attention from Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on B.R. Ambedkar.
Speaking about the FIR, the Congress MP said that the protest that led to the parliament scuffle was intentionally staged by the BJP. "Delhi Police will do whatever the home minister will say to them... Whatever happened in front of the Makar Dwar was completely planned...The home minister insulted BR Ambedkar, and we all demanded an apology, they planned all this to distract from the issue... He (the home minister) should have apologized... This FIR was not against Rahul Gandhi; this is against BR Ambedkar," Congress MP Jairam Ramesh told ANI.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned Sine DieThe Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die after the House adopted a motion to nominated 12 members to the joint committee of Parliament on simultaneous polls.
When the House met this morning, it witnessed protests by opposition members and was adjourned amid the din.
The Chairman also held a meeting with Leader of the House J P Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge besides leaders of various opposition parties in a bid to end the impasse in the House.
When the House again met at 12 noon, the Chairman asked Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to move a motion for nominating members of the upper house to the joint committee of Parliament to examine the bills related to 'one nation, one election'.
The Chairman then made his concluding remarks, saying this session's productivity stood at a mere 40.03 percent with just 43 hours and 27 minutes of effective functioning.
Shows Desperation: Priyanka Gandhi Reacts To FIR Against Rahul GandhiCongress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the FIR filed against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, saying that the government's actions reflect its desperation.
Speaking about the FIR, the Wayanad MP said, "The entire country is watching, they have slapped several cases on Rahul Gandhi. They bring in new FIRs and lie...This shows their desperation level."
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal also condemned the FIR, calling it a diversionary tactic. "The FIR against Rahul Gandhi is nothing but a diversionary tactic in response to his staunch protest against the Home Minister. A case against him for defending Babasaheb's legacy is a badge of honour," he wrote in a post on X.
Rajya Sabha Adopts Motion To Nominate 12 MPs To Joint Panel On Simultaneous PollsThe Rajya Sabha adopted through voice vote a motion to nominate 12 of its members to the joint committee of Parliament that will scrutinise the two bills proposing simultaneous elections.
Soon after the House met following an initial adjournment in the morning, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to move a motion to nominate members of the Rajya Sabha to the panel.
Moving the motion, Meghwal said the Upper House of Parliament resolves to nominate 12 members to serve on the joint committee.
The members nominated from the Rajya Sabha are Ghanshyam Tiwari, Bhubaneshwar Kalita, Dr K Laxman and Kavita Patidar of the BJP, Sanjay Kumar Jha of the JD(U), Randeep Singh Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik of the Congress, Saket Gokhale of the TMC, P Wilson of the DMK, Sanjay Singh of AAP, Manas Ranjan Mangaraj of the BJD and V Vijaisai Reddy of the YSRCP.
Lok Sabha Adopts Resolution To Send One Nation, One Poll To Committee
Lok Sabha adopts resolution referring bills on simultaneous polls to joint committee of Parliament amid din.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Sine Die Within Two Minutes Of Convening
As Opposition MPs raised slogans in the Lok Sabha despite Speaker Om Birla's instruction to members to no protest at Parliament gates, the House was adjourned sine die within minutes of convening for the day.
Opposition MPs Resume Protests Over Ambedkar Row
Ahead of the last day of the Parliament's Winter Session, India bloc MPs gathered at Vijay Chowk with posters of Dr BR Ambedkar, also stating demands for Home minister Amit Shah's resignation, as the ruling-opposition stand-off that began on Thursday.
Day After Scuffle, Hospitalised MPs Under ObservationAs per a health bulletin shared at 9 am, two BJP MPs, hospitalised on Thursday after a scuffle in the Parliament, stated that Mukesh Rajput remains stable but anxious
Meanwhile, Odisha MP Pratap Sarangi is under close monitoring due to a history of heart ailments and old age.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore Moves Motion Seeking Amit Shah's ResignationCongress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha and demanded his apology and resignation.
"The Minister's comments, made during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha, were not only unacceptable but also reflected a deep-seated disdain for the principles of social justice and equality that Dr Ambedkar fought for throughout his life," Manickam Tagore said in the notice.
Manickam Tagore demanded that Amit Shah apologize unconditionally for his remarks and resign from his position as Union Home Minister.
Opposition MPs Held Ambedkar Photos In Protest
Watch | BJP MPs Protested At Makar Dwar Over Opposition's Ambedkar Insult
Parliament Scuffle: 2 Injured BJP MPs Still In ICUTwo BJP MPs who were admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital after suffering head injuries in a face-off between the opposition and NDA members in Parliament premises are still in the ICU and being closely monitored, doctors told PTI.
Pratap Chandra Sarangi (69) from Odisha and Mukesh Rajput from Uttar Pradesh were brought to the hospital from Parliament with head injuries, hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Ajay Shukla said.
"They are admitted in the ICU. Their blood pressure levels have been brought under control and their condition is being monitored by a team of doctors," he said this evening while giving an update on their condition.
Delhi Police File FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Over Parliament ScuffleDelhi Police registered an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, in connection with a scuffle in Parliament.
BJP had filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi under various sections including 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention).
"Injuring Someone Condemnable": Union Minister Shekhawat On Parliament ScuffleUnion Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat condemned the scuffle that took place in Parliament, stating that while ideological differences are part of democracy, physical violence is unacceptable.
Addressing the media, Shekhawat said, "There can be ideological differences in democracy, but injuring someone physically is strongly condemnable."
He added that the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi should apologise for the incident and further emphasised that the Congress Party and its leaders have always believed they are above the law and the Constitution.
The minister pointed out that the entire incident was likely captured on CCTV and that the truth would be clear once the footage is made public.
Why Are The Ruling, Opposition MPs Clashing Over Ambedkar Remark?At the centre of the row is Union Home minister Amit Shah's remark in the Rajya Sabha, "It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar'. If they took God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven."
Protests erupted after the remark, with the Opposition demanding Mr Shah's resignation.
Opposition MPs To March To Parliament At 10 AMMembers of the INDIA bloc will march from Vijay Chowk till the Parliament at 10 am, a day after dramatic scenes played out in Parliament as the BJP protested at the Makar Dwar, while the Opposition stood with Ambedkar posters demanding Mr Shah's resignation.
Two BJP MPs were hospitalised after suffering head injuries in a face-off between the opposition and NDA members.