Parliament Monsoon Session 2022 Live Updates: As the Monsoon Session of the Parliament continues, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day soon after they convened, amid protests by the BJP as well as the Congress.
While the BJP MPs demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi over the contentious 'Rashtrapatni' remark made by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Opposition MPs demanded an apology from the BJP for heckling Gandhi in the Parliament on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Opposition MPs suspended from the two Houses this week are holding a 50-hour-long relay protest inside the Parliament premises. Braving mosquitoes and the heat, five suspended MPs, including the Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh, spent the night at the entrance of the Parliament complex.
Since the Parliament session began last week, both the Houses have witnessed frequent adjournments as the Opposition has continued to protest, demanding a discussion on issues such as inflation, the hike in GST prices, and the suspension of 24 MPs.
The Monsoon Session, which began on 18 July, is scheduled to end on 12 August
23 Rajya Sabha MPs from the Opposition – including seven from the TMC and three from the AAP – were suspended from the proceedings of Parliament for the week
Four Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress were suspended for the remainder of the Monsoon Session on Monday
A shouting match had ensued in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, with Union Minister Smriti Irani attacking Sonia Gandhi over a Congress leader's alleged derogatory remarks against the president
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021
'India Taking Lead in Raising Issue of Climate Finance': Govt in RS
“India has been taking the lead in raising the issue of climate finance at the UNFCCC and in other multilateral forums. India's efforts have repeatedly exposed exaggerated claims by developed country agencies that this goal is close to being met and have shown that the currently mobilised climate finance is in reality much less,” Union Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
At the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries committed to jointly mobilise USD 100 billion (one billion =100 crore) per year by 2020 to address the needs of the developing countries.
At COP21 in Paris, with the developed countries having failed to keep their commitment, it was decided to extend the USD 100 billion per year goal through to 2025.
'Was Not Given Chance To Respond': Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
"The way Sonia Gandhi was targeted in the parliament yesterday.. the government must issue an apology. I am at the centre of this controversy. But the BJP is attacking Sonia Gandhi," Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was quoted as saying.
He also said that was not given a chance to respond in the Parliament on the complaints filed against him.
'Adhir Hasn't Given Unconditional Apology, Sonia Gandhi Should Apologise': Union Minister Prahlad Joshi
"Adhir Ranjan has not issued an unconditional apology. Earlier when Murmu-ji was appointed as a candidate, then too, the Congress party had issued a negative statement. Sonia Gandhi should apologise," Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Joshi also criticised the protest being staged by the suspended MPs.
"To those MPs feasting on chicken while sitting in front of the Gandhi statue, I ask this: what have they been sent here for? Are they supposed to be here for 'charcha' (debate), or for chicken?" he asked.
Congress MPs Protest at Gandhi Statue Over 'Rashtrapatni' Row, Demand BJP Apology for Sonia
Congress MPs staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament on Friday to demand an apology from the government following the face-off between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union minister Smriti Irani.
On Thursday, the raging row over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calling President Droupadi Murmu "rashtrapatni" escalated with the opposition party accusing BJP MPs of subjecting its president to "brutal heckling, verbal assault and physical intimidation" in the Lok Sabha.
Congress MPs, protesting against the alleged misbehaviour with Gandhi, were joined by their colleagues from the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Chowdhury's remark on India's first tribal president has drawn a fresh battleline between the Congress and the BJP, which has demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi.