A Higher Orbit

It was remarkable that even a discussion to felicitate Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space flight descended into partisan rancour in Lok Sabha on August 18. As Speaker Om Birla spoke of the many firsts achieved by Shukla’s mission, I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs began to trickle into the well waving placards and soon began to raise a din. The cheerleaders included TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh who has emerged as a leading sloganeer with other MPs rallying around. The SP crowd was also active, with Dharmendra Yadav leading the protests even though party chief Akhilesh Yadav was not present. With Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being away in Bihar, party MPs filled the space to the left of the speaker. A couple of MPs could be seen raising placards in a bid to get on TV, a task that is not easy in the new Parliament building with its raised benches and a low well where the secretary general and House officials sit within thick brass railings. Minister of State Jitendra Singh criticised the Opposition for not suspending its protests even to congratulate the Indian Air Force officer and then shrugged off barbs by saying, “I am in space, you cannot reach me.” Congress Deputy Leader of the House Gaurav Gogoi looked as if he wanted to say something, but the chair remained firm that the Opposition would be heard only if the MPs returned to their seats. The noise levels kept rising as TMC, Congress, SP and DMK MPs shouted slogans against the government and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls
in Bihar.

Rudy’s Winning Ways

BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy is pleased as punch. Having retained the post of the Constitution Club secretary in a much-publicised BJP versus BJP contest against Sanjeev Balyan, Rudy has been thanking MPs and accepting congratulations in Parliament. On August 18, Opposition benches suddenly erupted in shouts of “Rudy, Rudy” as SP MP Dharmendra Yadav held his hands. This was in the middle of their protests against the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. While Rudy walked across to the BJP rows as well, it was the welcome he received from the Opposition that caught the eye. His margin of victory of 102 votes was largely facilitated by a section of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc supporting him.

Himanta’s Agenda

As the Monsoon Session of Parliament wound down, much of its time consumed by disruptions, the government moved a Bill to set up an Indian Institute of Management in Guwahati. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the Bill on August 18 and the ruling party was keen to ensure its early passage. The Assam election is due in March-April 2026, and the IIM project is no doubt important to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s scheme of things. Sarma is keen that work on the project begins while plans are afoot for classes commencing on a temporary campus.

A Temple Tussle

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey and the Jharkhand govern­ment are engaged in a series of spats with the Godda MP saying that the JMM regime is acting out of spite. In the latest incident, Dubey and fellow BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who represents the north east Delhi constituency, visited the famous Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar following which the local priest lodged a complaint against them for forcibly entering the shrine. Dubey has ques­tioned the priest’s author­ity. The MP has also said he is a trustee of the temple and no impropriety was committed on his visit.

Opposition Misses Out

With barely a few questions taken each day, the effort of MPs to raise queries goes a begging when the Houses are in disorder. Curiously enough, on most days, most of the questions listed to be answered in Lok Sabha have been put up by Opposition MPs. Since the MPs are on their feet or in the well, they do not ask follow-up questions even if their questions are called. This means that it is the NDA MPs who get to ask follow-ups with the Opposition going almost completely unrepresented.

Chinese Chequers

India and China are finding ways to improve bilateral ties but External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took care to emphasise the key principle of maintaining peace on the border when he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Delhi. He reminded Wang that de-escalation is still a work in progress even though troops on both sides have moved away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian readout also did not mention the Chinese claim that India had said Taiwan is part of China, which is not the same thing as accepting the One China claim.

Making the Cut

It is easy to make out the more experienced MPs when proceedings are being disrupted. For one, some in the Opposition, conscious of their seniority, do not join younger colleagues in the well. For another, they—as well as seniors in the treasury benches—are fine judges of just when the House is going to be adjourned. They are usually on their feet and heading for the exits just as the chair begins to announce that the House will be called to meet again after an interval, or on the following day.

astronautHimanta Biswa SarmaIndia-China relationsIndian ParliamentRajiv Pratap RudyShubhanshu Shukla