Lok Sabha first half disrupted over Adani Solar Project

The first half of the Lok Sabha was disrupted on Thursday as Congress members, backed by a few allies, sought to raise the issue of the Adani group getting permission for starting a mega solar energy project at a place in Gujarat which is reportedly very close to the Pakistan border.

Congress MPs started protesting as soon as the House commenced. Though Speaker Om Birla tried to proceed with the Question Hour, the protests prompted him to adjourn the house soon till 2 pm.

Rahul's 'Evaluation Meet'


Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi held an 'evaluation' meeting of the Lok Sabha Congress members. He is learnt to have told the members to be more active and regular in the House and took some names such as KC Venugopal, Benny Behanan and a few others and praised them for their participation in the House. Venugopal is learnt to have hailed Gandhi's speech on the budget as historic and said the theme of the speech should be taken to the grassroots level.

However, there are also murmurs among some LS MPs over the new rotational norm, by which Congress MPs who have spoken on a topic, are restricted from joining subsequent rounds of debates. Some feel this muffles seasoned debaters and weakens the larger cause of the party in the House.

UDF Protest

MPs of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) of Kerala held a protest outside Parliament House to register their protest against the increasing cases of civilian killings in man-animal conflict in the forest areas of the state, including Wayanad. They also protested against the central permission for sand mining in some coastal belts of Kerala.