Fierce BJP-INDIA bloc showdown marks end of Parliament's winter session

The winter session of Parliament concluded on a tumultuous note, with INDIA bloc members staging a protest march from Vijay Chowk in New Delhi to Parliament on Dec 20.

Their primary demand was Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation and a public apology over his remarks concerning Dr B R Ambedkar. Both Houses were adjourned sine die amid the continuing uproar.

Tensions flared just a day earlier, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress MPs engaging in a physical altercation at the new Parliament building's entrance.

BJP legislators Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput sustained head injuries, alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi forcefully pushed through BJP members at Makar Dwar.

Following formal complaints from both parties, the Lok Sabha Speaker imposed a ban on demonstrations near Parliament gates.

The session, which commenced on Nov 15, addressed critical legislative and constitutional matters, including a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

However, the motion was dismissed due to procedural lapses, such as inadequate notice and incorrect documentation.

Key debates included allegations of financial misconduct involving the Adani Group, frequently raised by opposition members. In response, BJP MPs claimed a "Soros-Gandhi nexus."

The contentious 'One Nation, One Election' bill proposing simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further evaluation, despite opposition concerns over potential violations of federal principles.

The confrontation intensified after Amit Shah's Rajya Sabha speech on Ambedkar, which opposition leaders deemed disrespectful. Congress accused the BJP of distributing a distorted version of Shah's remarks.

Rahul Gandhi, rejecting claims of pushing BJP MPs, demanded Shah’s resignation, asserting that the BJP was deflecting from the controversy surrounding businessman Gautam Adani, who is facing an indictment order from the US on charges of bribing government officials to secure contracts.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging personal injury, criticized Shah's statements on Nehru and Ambedkar, remarking, "If allowed to speak in Parliament, I would have countered his lies." He further accused the BJP of trying to stifle opposition queries into Adani-related financial irregularities, stating, "We protested outside Parliament for 14 days to expose Adani's loot."