Sansad Clears Major Legislation Amid Stormy Debates and Boycotts

Nineteen bills, including one to change the Constitution to sack ministers facing criminal charges, were passed during Sansad discussion with the opposition.

The bills were passed amid chaos prompted by outspoken protests over the Bihar voter list controversy and allegations conducted by the Congress. Rahul Gandhi (ruling BJP) had colluded with the Election Commission to commit voter fraud in Karnataka and Maharashtra last year.

Two in the opposition also boycotted the special discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful mission to the International Space Station and opposition demands for parliamentary debate on issues such as the Special intensive Revision (SIR) of voters’ rolls in Bihar and other issues.

Parliament also cleared the Online Gaming Bill which acknowledges e-sports and online games while banning real-money-based games and gambling, many of which are promoted by celebrities.

Two bills relating to Manipur (the GST Amendment Bill and the Appropriation (No 2) Bill) and another relating to the functioning of government-run Indian Institutes of Management were also cleared without or with minimum opposition contribution.

Another discussion on Operation Sindoor saw extensive debates in both Houses.

Total 12 bills were passed by the Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha (which began on July 21 with protests over Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack).

The monsoon session had a total of 21 sittings over 32 days, over which the Lok Sabha functioned for only 37 of the scheduled 120 hours and the Rajya Sabha managed less than 42 hours. This prompted Lok Sabha Om Birla to chide opposition MPs. he said “The people expect serious debate, not placards and slogans. Continuous disruptions insult the dignity of Parliament.”

Opposition protests and walkouts, a frequent occurrence in any Parliament session, have also led to repeated adjournments. In 2012 these disruptions would have cost the public exchequer Rs 2.5 lakh per minute.

The government has criticized the opposition on this point recently. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she had been left shocked by the opposition failing to interact on proposed changes to the Income Tax Act.