Parliament adjourned amid Opposition fury over Adani bribery case, Sambhal clash

In both Houses, proceedings were stopped after opposition MPs demanded holding discussions on clashes in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal over survey of a mosque, bribery allegations against the Adani Group.

In Short

• Opposition demanded discussion on bribery allegations against Adani Group
• PM Modi criticised opposition for disruptions in Parliament
• Several bills are scheduled for introduction and debate till December 20

The winter session of Parliament began today but was disrupted shortly after it started, leading to the adjournment of both Houses for the day. In both Houses, proceedings were stopped after opposition MPs demanded holding discussions on clashes in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal over survey of a mosque, bribery allegations against the Adani Group.

Ahead of the winter session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the opposition, saying that those repeatedly rejected by voters resort to disruptions and hooliganism in Parliament.

“Those rejected 80-90 times by people do not allow discussions in Parliament. They do not understand people’s aspirations. I hope new members from every party get a chance in the Winter Session of Parliament to share their ideas,” the Prime Minister said.

The winter session will run until December 20, with several bills slated for introduction, debate, and passage. These include the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, the Bills of Lading Bill, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, the Railways (Amendment) Bill, the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill.

The Opposition members associated with the Joint Working Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill wrote to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, seeking extension of time for completing the consultation process on the proposed changes to the Waqf Act, news agency ANI reported.

Ahead of the session, the government on Sunday held an all-party meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leading the governing party and appealed to all parties to cooperate in ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament.

On the Opposition's demand to take up the bribery allegations against the Adani group for discussion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the respective business advisory committees of both Houses will decide on the agenda for the session, news agency PTI reported.

Last week, US prosecutors indicted Gautam Adani and seven others for alleged involvement in a $265 million scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure power-supply contracts. The Adani Group has denied the charges, calling them baseless.

Meanwhile, the MPs of INDIA bloc parties will convene a meeting at 10 am at the Parliament House to finalise the opposition's strategy before the commencement of the session, news agency ANI reported.

The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to decide on the matters that the INDIA bloc will take during the Parliament session.

(With inputs from agencies)