11 Times BJP Disrupted Parliament Sessions

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the opposition’s cooperation and urged them to not disrupt the upcoming Parliament session. But what about the times when the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) claimed that stalling the parliament is also a democratic right?

In August 2012, Arun Jaitley had justified stalling of Parliament by BJP and said, “Disruption should not be described as preventing work from being done, because what we are doing is very important work itself.”

But those were days when BJP was in the Opposition!

Should we not consider the statistics from UPA II regime, which reveal that parliamentary disruptions rose – from 13% in the 14th Lok Sabha to 39% in the 15th – majorly due to obstructions created by BJP?

Earlier this year, PM Modi had announced a fasting protest against washout of Parliament’s Budget Session Part II. BJP’s hypocrisy was unveiled by the party’s own MP, Shatrughan Sinha.

Sinha had posed some embarrassing questions and had asked why the PM was fasting now when the BJP had stalled the parliament for months during its opposition days.

Sinha had said, “What is the reason, Sir, behind this Upwaas (fast). Is it for the Parliament not running smoothly? Is the Opposition entirely responsible for it? Many a time in the past when we were in the Opposition, we did not let it work for days, weeks and months.”

Now, let us have a look at those times when BJP caused a ‘lokjam’.

December 16, 2016

This time though in power, BJP leaders stalled a debate on demonetisation in Parliament. This Parliamentary session was the least productive legislative session in six years. 

The month-long winter session was a virtual washout as opposition parties and the government clashed primarily over BJP’s independent decision on demonetization.

May 8, 2013

Parliament was disrupted once again as the BJP continued with its demand for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation over coal blocks allocation, and also demanded that ministers P.K. Bansal and Ashwani Kumar step down.

BJP lawmakers approached the speaker’s podium and shouted slogan against PM Singh. Lok Sabha house was adjourned, as a result. Similar incidents took place in the Rajya Sabha and causing the session to be adjourned.

April 23, 2013

Once again, the BJP demanded the resignation of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, for allegedly vetting the CBI investigations into coal block allocations.

“The CAG report, tabled in Parliament on August 17, put the UPA government in a spot, with the Opposition stalling Parliament’s business for several days,” reported Times of India.

January 21, 2013

 Demanding joint parliamentary probe into the 2G spectrum scam, BJP stalled parliament sessions of both the houses by shouting slogans. These disruptions continued for at least 5 days before the Parliament could resume its functions.

September 7, 2012

The Indian Parliament’s monsoon session ended after repeated disturbances created by the BJP.

The 19-day long session saw made no productive decisions. Defending the party’s actions, Arun Jaitley had then said, “Disruption can sometimes produce results that discussion cannot.”

September 1, 2012

BJP vowed to continue its “parliamentary tactic” of stalling proceedings and demanded the resignation of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Venkaiah Naidu had said, “We do agree that business should carry on but the government was bulldozing the opposition. We cannot remain mute spectators to loot of the nation’s wealth.”
August 30, 2012

BJP this paralysed the Parliament proceedings and once again demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation over coal block allocation.

Both the houses were continuously adjourned for more than a week due to BJP’s persistent demand. 

March 22, 2011

The Rajya Sabha witnessed three adjournments and the Lok Sabha one, as BJP insisted for debate on cash-for-votes allegation on Congress.

Three BJP MPs had walked in the Parliament claiming that they had been offered a total of 3 crore rupees to vote for the nuclear deal.

PM Manmohan Singh had said, “The allegations of bribery were being investigated and the KC Deo committee had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to conclude bribery.”

BJP refused to accept the report and later walked out of the Lok Sabha.

December 13, 2010

The winter session of the Parliament was rendered unproductive due to the standoff between ruling Congress and Opposition led by the BJP, over 2G spectrum scam, as reported by The Hindu. 

Opposition forced adjournments in both houses, almost every day, during the winter session which began on November 9. 

November 10, 2010

The BJP stalled the Parliament over the CWG and 2G scams. The Opposition shouted slogans and therefore, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till noon that day. Similar scenes followed when the Parliament reassembled later, forcing its adjournment for the day.

Such disruptions continued for the coming days.

July 29, 2009

BJP launched a frontal assault on the Congress-led government regarding the  Sharm-el Sheikh joint statement, given by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The opposition brought this for discussion during the Parliament session and shouted slogan against the Congress party and PM Singh.

It appears that BJP cannot decide whether stalling the parliament is a democratic right or a violation.