Parliament Session 2024, Lok Sabha Session Day 3 Highlights: TMC MP from Ghatal, Deepak Adhikari, took oath as the Lok Sabha member on Wednesday when the lower house resumed proceedings at 11 am today. However, among the seven remaining MPs scheduled to take oath, Independent MP from Jammu and Kashmir Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Basirhat MP Sheikh Nurul Islam, and Asansol MP Shatrughan Sinha (TMC) were called but were absent from the House. Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh (Independent) and Samajwadi Party’s MP-elect from Ghazipur Afzal Ansari are also yet to take their oaths. Sheikh and Singh are currently in jail.
On Tuesday, prominent members such as Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, Hema Malini, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi were sworn in. To date, 535 members have taken their oaths. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will move the motion today in the Lok Sabha to choose Om Birla as the Speaker of the lower house amid a tussle for the post with the opposition’s INDIA bloc. Rajnath Singh will second the motion.
According to today’s list of business, after the remaining MPs who have not already taken the oath or made the affirmation do so, they will sign the roll of members.
Parliament Session 2024 Highlights : Remaining seven MPs to take oath as Members of Parliament. Follow real-time updates from the 18th Lok Sabha session here!
During the Parliament session, the Lok Sabha erupted in protest when newly-elected Speaker Om Birla denounced the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, labeling it a dark episode in Indian democracy. Opposition members swiftly reacted by chanting slogans as the Speaker proceeded to read a resolution condemning the Emergency. Notably, June 25 marked the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha during a live session following the conclusion of the Speaker election. This customary introduction occurred as each new government assumed office. The special session's schedule included President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on Thursday.
Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and DMK leader T R Baalu extended their congratulations to Om Birla on his re-election as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and expressed hopes for his impartiality towards the opposition.
Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the House's operations depend on the attitude of the ruling party, emphasising that the opposition also plays a crucial role.
"It is my firm belief and so far parliamentary democratic practice is concerned, the House belongs to the opposition. This attitude needs to be adopted by the ruling party," he said.
He mentioned the suspension of opposition MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha and said it was "not desirable".
DMK's Baalu said that now that Birla is the Speaker, he does not belong to any party anymore.
"You might have been elected by my BJP friends (but) hereafter there is no politics between you and the powers. You don't have any colour also. You have to treat the opposition and the ruling party in the same manner. Kindly be impartial," he said.
TMC MP from Ghatal, Deepak Adhikari, took his oath as a Lok Sabha member on Wednesday when the lower house resumed proceedings at 11 am today.
Among the seven remaining MPs scheduled to take oath today, Independent MP from Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Rashid Sheikh; Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor (Congress); Basirhat MP Sheikh Nurul Islam; and Asansol MP Shatrughan Sinha (TMC), along with Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh (Independent), were called but were not present in the House. Sheikh and Singh are currently in jail.
Additionally, Samajwadi Party's MP-elect from Ghazipur, Afzal Ansari, has also yet to take his oath.
Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party and a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, extended congratulations to Om Birla on his election as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He expressed hope for unbiased and fair proceedings in the House.
Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition from the Congress party, extended warm congratulations to Om Birla on his re-election as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
"I would like to congratulate you for your successful election for the second time that you have been elected. I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire opposition, on behalf of the INDIA alliance. Speaker sir, this House represents the voice of India's people, and you are the final arbiter of that voice. Of course, the government has political power but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people," Gandhi stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the 17th Lok Sabha. "The works that didn't happen during 70 years of independence, were made possible by this House under your chairmanship. Several milestones come in the long journey of democracy. A few occasions are such when we receive the opportunity to establish milestones. I am very confident that the country will be proud of the achievements of the 17th Lok Sabha..." he said.
The Parliament session in the Lok Sabha began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing Om Birla as the Lok Sabha speaker. The proposal was seconded by BJP's Rajnath Singh, JD(U)'s Lallan Singh, and other NDA leaders.
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi left his residence to attend the Parliament Session. The election for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker will take place today.
#watch | Union Minister Chirag Paswan and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut arrive at the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/ZZZk61z7d0
— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2024
Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticised the BJP for the lack of consensus on selecting a Speaker, accusing the ruling party of breaking parliamentary traditions.
"We wanted to have a consensus, follow parliamentary procedures, traditions which used to be followed earlier," Tagore said. "Atal Ji gave the Deputy Speaker position to the Opposition. Manmohan Singh also followed this practice. Modi Ji has refused to follow it in the last 10 years. This forced the INDIA alliance to nominate their candidate."
VIDEO | NDA's Lok Sabha Speaker candidate Om Birla (@ombirlakota) performs puja at his residence in Delhi ahead of leaving for Parliament.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 26, 2024
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/xyFRCJba6j
Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress Party have issued three-line whips directing their members to be present in the Lok Sabha from 11 am until the conclusion of proceedings. Today marks a rare election for the Speaker's post in the Lok Sabha, with a resurgent Opposition pushing for a contest. The government appears to hold the numerical advantage despite this.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will move the motion today in the Lok Sabha to choose Om Birla as the Speaker, amid a tussle for the post with the opposition's INDIA bloc.
In what promises to be a stormy session, Modi will bring the motion for Birla to be chosen as Speaker, with Rajnath Singh seconding it.
Following this, Union Ministers Lallan Singh, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Amit Shah, Chirag Paswan, HD Kumaraswamy, and Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu will also support the motion to choose Birla as Speaker.
The seven MPs yet to take their oaths include:
- Shatrughan Sinha, Trinamool Congress MP from Asansol
- Deepak Adhikari, Trinamool Congress MP from Ghatal
- Sheikh Nurul Islam, Trinamool Congress MP from Basirhat
- Amritpal Singh, Independent candidate from Khadoor Sahib
- Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, Independent candidate from Baramulla
- Afzal Ansari, Samajwadi Party MP from Ghazipur
The lower house will resume proceedings at 11 am today, with the remaining seven MPs to be sworn in on the third day of the 18th Lok Sabha's first session.