New Delhi: A day after the government and the opposition reached an agreement on the demand for a discussion on the issue of special comprehensive revision of electoral rolls, parliamentary proceedings went on without any disruption for the first time on the third day of the winter session on Wednesday. The Lok Sabha proceedings began with the Question Hour.
During a meeting chaired by Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday evening, it was decided to discuss the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram' next Monday and electoral reforms the following Tuesday in the Lok Sabha.
Earlier today, as soon as the House met, members paid tributes to former members who had passed away recently. The House then began the Question Hour. After the session began on Monday, opposition members disrupted the proceedings by demanding a debate on the special comprehensive revision exercise being carried out in nine states and three union territories.
The proceedings of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began on the third day of the winter session. On the first two days of the session, the opposition parties created a loud ruckus demanding a discussion on the issue of special comprehensive amendments, due to which the proceedings of both the houses were disrupted several times.
Earlier on Wednesday, several opposition MPs, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, protested against the new labour codes in the Parliament complex and demanded their repeal.
MPs from the Congress, DMK, TMC, Left parties and others participated in the protest in front of the Makar Duar of Parliament. Carrying posters and placards against the new labour codes, the opposition MPs raised slogans demanding their withdrawal.
Apart from Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TMC's Dola Sen, DMK's K Kanimozhi and A Raja, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, CPI(ML) Liberation's Sudama Prasad and others participated in the protest. The MPs also held a large banner that read - 'No to Corporate Jungle Raj, Yes to Labour Justice'.
Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge join the protest against the Labour Code in the Parliament premises during the winter session. Photo: PTI
Notably, the Centre had notified four labour codes last month, which were pending since 2020. The Congress had alleged that 29 existing labour-related laws have been repackaged into four codes. Four labour codes: Wages Code (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020) and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020).
Meanwhile, opposition leaders met in Parliament on Wednesday to discuss their joint strategy. Floor leaders of various parties including Congress, DMK, RJD, SP, JMM, CPI-M, CPI, IUML, NCP-SP, and SS-UBT attended the meeting, while Trinamool Congress stayed away. The TMC was also absent from the last meeting of opposition leaders - the first day of the winter session on December 1.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was also present at the meeting held in Rajya Sabha member Mallikarjun Kharge's chamber. During the meeting, the leaders also stressed that their unity and continuous pressure on the government has forced it to agree to their demand for discussion on electoral reforms, including SIR. They also demanded smooth functioning of Parliament. The opposition is protesting in Parliament over its demand for discussion on SIR.