Kiren Rijiju Slams Opposition Over ‘Petty Sloganeering At LS Speaker’s Chair

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday criticised Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha for throwing pieces of paper towards the Chair and engaging in what he described as “petty sloganeering”.

Chaos ensued in the House soon after it met at 4.30 pm after earlier adjournments. Opposition MPs raised slogans and protested over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and “threw pieces of paper” at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair.

Criticising the opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “All of us saw the conduct of the Opposition today, they threw pieces of paper towards the Chair and did petty sloganeering…We have come to the House by taking an oath.”

Condemning the opposition for their conduct, Rijiju accused them of “lowering the dignity” of the Speaker’s Chair.

He said, “You have lowered the dignity of the House by throwing pieces of paper towards the Chair. I condemn this…”

Rijiju said that while the BJP had also been in the Opposition, it had always maintained decorum. “We were in the Opposition all our lives. But we had never seen such conduct. We too protested but we did so in a civil manner. We never tore up paper or did drama or spoke unparliamentary words…The country won’t forgive you. We have said again and again that if you have courage, participate in the discussion…There is still time; mend your ways…Don’t waste time…” he said.

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair, alleged that this conduct was carried out by opposition MPs on the signals of Deputy Leader of Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi.

“What happened in the House today wasn’t done by the MPs, the Deputy Leader of Congress signalled them, handed them the paper for them to tear it up. No Deputy Leader would display such irresponsible actions…” Pal said.

Following the ruckus, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 11 am on August 18. (ANI)