Members in the Lok Sabha during Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: On the last day of Monsoon Session of the Lok Sabha, chaos ensued as members rushed to have their voices heard during Zero Hour. The chair, in an attempt to accommodate as many MPs as possible, enforced a 30-second limit per speaker.
National Conference MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, was angry when his microphone was abruptly cut off while discussing mining rights in Jammu and Kashmir. "We brave bullets, and you don’t allow us to speak," he shouted in frustration.
Independent MP from Bihar, Pappu Yadav, made repeated attempts to capture the chair's attention, eventually combining multiple constituency issues into his allotted time. His microphone was also silenced, prompting a rebuke from the chair, Jagdambika Pal, who reminded him of the one-issue rule.
TMC MP Satabdi Roy, after waiting three hours to speak, protested the 30-second limit, while a BJP MP from Odisha, discussing harassment of female bank employees, quipped, "Sir, allow us to breathe," before her microphone was also cut off.
Bansuri Swaraj, MP from Delhi and daughter of former Union minister Sushma Swaraj, faced a similar fate while addressing flooding in her constituency. Despite her microphone being switched off, she continued to speak.
Congress Meghalaya MP Saleng Sangma, after struggling to be noticed, was encouraged by fellow MPs to move to the front row to gain the chair’s attention. The session closed with many MPs left frustrated as their concerns went unheard in the final hours.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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