Ambedkar Row: Both Houses Of Parliament Adjourned Sine Dine Amid Protests By Opposition On Last Day Of Winter Session

New Delhi: Both the Parliament houses were adjourned sine die on Thursday following uproar over the Ambedkar controversy. Both the Opposition and treasury benches protested against the alleged insult to Dr BR Ambedkar. They also protested against Speaker Om Birla’s directions barring demonstrations at the Parliament gates.

Earlier in the day, Birla had called on Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to present a resolution for constituting a joint committee of Parliament to examine the bills related to ‘One Nation, One Election’. But slogans of “Jai Bhim” echoed in the House. At this point, the Speaker read out his directions that banned protests demonstrations at Parliament’s gates. The protests continued despite repeated order by the Speaker. Thereafter, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die.

Congress members raised of “Jai Bheem, Jai Jai Bheem” in protest against the handling of the Ambedkar issue. Congress members, led by Manickam Tagore, stormed the Well of the House. They kept raising slogans and remained in the Well even as “Vande Mataram” was played in accordance of parliamentary convention at the close of the session.

Meanwhile, India bloc MPs staged massive protest march from Vijay Chowk to Parliament, demanding Home Minister Amit Shah’s immediate resignation over his derogatory remarks on Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

The privilege notice, moved by TMC’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien under Rule 187, said that Shah had undermined the legacy of Ambedkar, architect of India’s Constitution, and the dignity of the Parliament. O’Brien sought action against Shah, alleging that Shah’s comments were in violation of parliamentary decorum.

The Home Minister, during his speech on the debate over Constitution in Rajya Sabha, said it had become a “fashion” for Opposition parties to take Ambedkar’s name.

“Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven),” Shah said on Tuesday.