Parliament Winter Session Day 4: Rajya Sabha Adjourns Amid Protests Over Disputed Adjournment Notices

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were suspended for the day on Friday as opposition MPs erupted into protests over the rejection of adjournment notices for discussion on several sensitive issues, including alleged corruption against the Adani Group and communal violence in Manipur and Sambhal.

In a morning session that saw the laying of listed papers, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the House about 17 adjournment notices from opposition MPs under Rule 267. However, he announced that all notifications were being rejected.

The move was met with fierce protests by several Congress- affiliated lawmakers and others who began shouting slogans condemning the decision. Dhankhar's comment that "Rule 267 is being weaponised as a mechanism of disruption" further escalated tensions.

In his address before adjourning proceedings for the day, Dhankhar claimed that similar issues have been raised repeatedly in the past, leading to three working days lost.

The protesters are demanding discussion on allegations of corruption and wrongdoings against the Adani Group, communal violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, and ethnic clashes in Manipur. This marked the fourth consecutive day when substantial business was not carried out during the Winter Session.

As a result, the House will meet again on Monday to resume its proceedings. The opposition's protest appears to be an attempt to disrupt the legislative agenda of the government amidst tense debates over the Adani Group controversies.