The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die a day in advance after what is being termed as the frostiest winter session of relations between treasury and Opposition benches in India’s history. The session saw a security breach in the Lok Sabha, the suspension of 146 MPs, and the disqualification of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mohua Moitra from the Lok Sabha.
The session, held against the backdrop of the results of the Assembly elections in five States, with the BJP winning the three Hindi-speaking States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh; the Congress winning Telangana; and the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) winning Mizoram, was expected to be stormy, with Ms. Moitra’s disqualification on December 8, following the adoption of a report by the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha.
But barely had the sparks dimmed that the Lok Sabha witnessed a security breach, with two persons entering and setting off coloured gas cannisters on December 13, 22 years to the day terrorists had attacked the old Parliament House. While the incident fortunately did not lead to any casualties, Speaker Om Birla did not agree to the Opposition’s demand for a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and as Opposition MPs protested, carrying placards into the Well of the House, a series of suspensions began, with several MPs referred to the Privileges Committee.
