Parliament logjam continues; JPC probe demand into Adani issue rejected by chair

New Delhi: No substantial business was conducted for the third consecutive working day on Thursday as the Opposition disrupted Parliament proceedings to press for its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the indictment of businessman Gautam Adani on bribery charges by the US authorities.

As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled at 11 am, the Opposition allowed it to function as newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Nanded MP Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao had to take oath. Later, Opposition MPs started raising slogans and demanded formation of a JPC. Speaker Om Birla said, "I will give you enough time to raise issues. But with your protests you are infringing on the rights of other MPs." Only one question could be taken up before Birla adjourned the House for an hour at 11.07 am. Lok Sabha functioned for just 13 minutes on Thursday.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha. Opposition MPs had given notices under Rule 267 for suspension of listed business to discuss the Adani issue. This was not allowed by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari sought to raise a point of order on the issue, but the Chair did not relent.