Parliament Adjourned amid Protests; Lok Sabha Passes Goa ST Reservation Bill

New Delhi: Proceedings in both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned amid the Opposition parties’ protests over various issues, ranging from discussions on special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar electoral rolls to the alleged deployment of CISF in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Outside, Opposition MPs, including Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, staged a protest against the Bihar SIR and demanded its rollback.

Amidst the din, the Lok Sabha passed a bill to provide reservation to Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Goa Assembly.

In the Lok Sabha, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill 2025 for consideration. The Lok Sabha passed the bill by a voice vote. The bill was introduced in the Lower House on August 5, 2024.

This is the first bill to be passed by the Lok Sabha in the ongoing Monsoon Session, which has seen disruptions by the Opposition on various issues. After the passage of the bill, Sandhya Ray, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings for the day as protests by the Opposition members continued unabated.

When the House commenced the proceedings at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla first paid tributes to three former members, including Jharkhand former chief minister Shibu Soren, who passed away on Monday. Soon after the obituary references, the Opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were on their feet, raising slogans and holding up placards. The Opposition was demanding a discussion on the SIR exercise initiated by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

As the protests intensified, the Speaker said the Opposition MPs were not listening to him and continuing their protests despite his repeated appeals.

"You are not interested in allowing the House to function smoothly. Your behaviour and activities have lowered the dignity and honour of the House. You have been by systematically obstructing the proceedings. This is not good," Birla said.

As the Opposition ignored the Speaker's pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House till 2 pm after about 25 minutes of business. Barring discussions on Operation Sindoor, Parliament has seen little business since the Monsoon Session began on July 21.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed disruption as the Opposition MPs continued to press for a discussion on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Upper House was adjourned for the day soon after approving two statutory resolutions.

The Rajya Sabha saw its first adjournment around 11.45 am, when it was adjourned till 2 pm. When the House met at 2 pm, the Opposition MPs were on their feet demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar.

Amid the ruckus, deputy Chairperson Harivansh, who was in the Chair, took up two statutory resolutions, including one for extending the President's rule in Manipur for another six months. He said that it was a constitutional obligation and told the members that the House has passed only one Bill in the session so far. The Chair also disallowed any remarks made by the Opposition leaders on issues other than the resolution that was being taken.

A resolution of the finance ministry to amend the Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1975 was passed by voice vote. The Chair then adjourned the House for the day as protests continued.

In the morning sitting, the Congress and other Opposition parties created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha soon after the House met, alleging CISF personnel were deployed in the House last week, an assertion vehemently rejected by both the Chair and the government, who said that the personnel belonged to parliamentary security services.