Stir in Well will continue: Oppn as tussle over breach escalates

The standoff between the government and the Opposition over the security breach in Parliament escalated on Friday with the latter announcing that they will continue to protest in the well of the house, challenging the former to suspend all Opposition lawmakers from the House. On Thursday, 14 lawmakers from the opposition parties were suspended.

- Saubhadra Chatterji, Smriti Kak Ramachandran

No business was transacted in either House on Friday as Opposition MPs continued to demand a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the glaring security lapse in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday in which two men jumped from the public gallery into the Lok Sabha floor and sprayed smoke from a canister that had smuggled into the building hidden in their shoes, clearing three layers of security in one of the most-secure places in the country.

With five days remaining in the session, the NDA government is expected to push the three amended bills that form the basis of India's criminal justice system, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, and The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill.

A senior government functionary admitted that "these four bills are our top priority for the session." The remaining five days of the winter session, which is to end on Friday December 22 present what may well be the last opportunity for the BJP-led NDA to clear bills before the Lok Sabha polls. In the budget session of 2024, the government will only be able to clear the vote on account.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said the government is ready for a debate on these laws. "We are completely ready for discussion.

Very important bills are coming, including three bills related to Indian Criminal Procedure. We urge them (the Opposition) to engage in a meaningful discussion during this time." But he sidestepped the issue of the breach and whether the home minister would make a statement on it in the House -the singular demand of the Opposition.