Budget Session: Opposition MPs walk out of both houses over Kumbh stampede

The Opposition raised the Mahakumbh stampede death issue in both the Houses of Parliament on Monday and staged a walkout when the Chair did not accept the notice for suspension of listed business to discuss the issue. The House proceedings continued during Zero Hour and Question Hour without the presence of the Opposition.

Soon after the Upper House met for the day and the birthday greetings and obituary references were over, the Opposition raised the stampede issue. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he has received nine notices under Rule 267 for suspension of business to discuss the matter but he did not accept the notices.

The Opposition raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath even as the Chair went ahead with the Special Mentions. They alleged that the death figures were much higher than the official number of 30. As the House proceedings continued, the Opposition parties then staged a walkout as the demand for discussion on the stampede was turned down.


The Opposition stayed away during the Question Hour as well.

However, the Opposition was back during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address debate. The Upper House, which has set aside 15 hours for this debate, did not take a recess break.

As soon as the Lok Sabha commenced, the members of the Congress and many other Opposition parties sought to raise the issue of deaths and injury in the stampede and sought a discussion on the matter. However, Speaker Om Birla rejected their demand, saying they can raise their issues while speaking on the motion of thanks to the President's address.

The Speaker conducted the entire Question Hour amid the sloganeering even as Parliamentary Affairs Kiran Rijiju criticised the Opposition members for their protest.