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Politics

Winter Session of Parliament Ends Amid Protests; ONOE Bill Referred to JPC

The JPC is expected to submit its report by the final week of the next session.

Winter Session of Parliament Ends Amid Protests; ONOE Bill Referred to JPC

Screenshot from a Sansad TV video.

The winter session of Parliament concluded on Friday, December 20, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die.

The session was marked by heated protests, allegations of assault, and significant legislative developments, including progress on the controversial ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) initiative.

On the session's final day, the Lok Sabha passed a resolution to refer the ONOE constitutional amendment bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

The 39-member JPC, with 27 MPs from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha, will examine the proposal to synchronise Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the motion, which was approved with 269 votes in favor and 198 against, despite uproar in the House. The JPC is expected to submit its report by the final week of the next session.

While BJP MPs, including Kangana Ranaut, lauded the bill as a step toward saving public funds and increasing voter participation, opposition leaders like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticized it as “anti-democratic” and a threat to regional voices.

Speaker Om Birla, in his closing remarks, urged MPs to uphold the dignity of Parliament and warned against disruptive protests, declaring such actions would face consequences.

Tensions Between NDA and INDIA Bloc

The adjournment followed a dramatic week of political turmoil, culminating in a clash between NDA and opposition INDIA bloc members on Thursday.

The confrontation stemmed from Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, which opposition leaders claimed insulted the architect of the Constitution.

Rahul Gandhi led a protest demanding Shah’s resignation, while BJP MPs counter-accused the Congress of disrespecting Ambedkar. The protests escalated into a physical scuffle on Parliament premises, with BJP alleging that its MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were injured in the incident.

SP MP Jaya Bachchan, recounting the events, described the scene as chaotic and deliberate, with MPs jostling and blocking pathways. Both injured BJP MPs were hospitalised, prompting senior party leaders to visit them. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Gandhi of “goon-like behavior,” while an FIR was filed against him for alleged “assault and incitement.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi dismissed the FIR as “false” and “baseless,” accusing the government of attempting to divert attention. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray echoed this sentiment, asserting that Gandhi and the INDIA bloc were undeterred and reiterated their demand for Shah’s resignation.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav termed the FIR a “conspiracy” to distract from Shah’s remarks, insisting the public would not tolerate insults to Ambedkar.

Meanwhile, Congress MPs filed a counter-complaint at Parliament Street Police Station, accusing BJP MPs of misconduct toward Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during the scuffle.

The controversy over Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar continued to resonate. Congress MPs moved multiple adjournment motions demanding an apology from Shah, stating that his comments demeaned Ambedkar’s legacy. SP leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav also called for an apology, while BSP Chief Mayawati expressed her hurt over Shah’s statements and urged him to retract them.

Parallel protests outside Parliament on Friday saw NDA and INDIA bloc MPs trading barbs. BJP leaders accused Gandhi of arrogance and rule-breaking, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP MP Anurag Thakur denouncing the opposition’s conduct.

INDIA bloc leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi, led a protest march from Vijay Chowk to Parliament, reiterating their demand for Shah’s resignation. Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of avoiding debates on pressing issues like the Adani controversy and resorting to baseless FIRs out of desperation.

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