Opposition MPs make noise in Lok Sabha wearing black clothes; proceedings adjourned

Congress MPs dressed in black shirts, kurtas and bands on their sides, along with members of the DMK, NCP and Left, staged a vigorous protest inside the Lok Sabha on Friday, resulting in an abrupt adjournment of the proceedings.

While Congress President Sonia Gandhi was seen wearing a black blouse, Rahul Gandhi was in a black shirt, and some MPs had a black cloth wrapped around their shoulders apart from a black bandage.

As the House met, Speaker Om Birla paid a tribute and remembered the victims of the Hiroshima bombing. Soon after the House observed a minute’s silence, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury got up to speak, but the Speaker did not allow him. Congress along with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs entered the Well of the House raising slogans demanding “Nyay”. Members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joined in the noise by clapping.

After this the Speaker started the Question Hour, but the sloganeering continued. Clearly angry, Birla reiterated that MPs should return to their seats and raise the issue during Zero Hour. “This is not right. You cannot raise slogans. It has hurt the dignity of the House. The world is watching you,” Birla said. But the opposition MPs only shouted slogans loudly, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings till noon. Had to postpone.

After the House was adjourned, Congress MPs led by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi took out a protest march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan, raising slogans against the price hike. Some MPs wore garlands made of green vegetables and empty packets of dairy products outside the House.

5 August, 2022, 1:53 pm