lok sabha

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 4 pm on July 20, since opposition brought milk and curd packets to protest against the increased prices and GST rates on household items. The protest was staged outside parliament, near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, and within both the houses. Notably, Rajya Sabha proceedings were also postponed till 2 pm. Further details are awaited.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla notified the officials and requested a meeting of the heads of all political parties on July 16. Discussions over other bills are also anticipated, and the Speaker is likely to inform the members of the session's preparations. Before the commencement of each legislative session, the Speaker hosts this customary all-party gathering. Beginning on July 18, the Parliament's monsoon session will take place.

Over the last five years, free rail travel for current and retired Lok Sabha members have cost the treasury Rs 62 crore. According to reports under Right to Information Act, this includes approximately Rs 2.5 crore in the pandemic-hit 2020-21 fiscal year. While MPs are permitted to travel for free in first class air-conditioned or executive class on trains, their spouses are also permitted to do so under certain restrictions.

In Lok Sabha's 'Zero Hour' MP Danish Ali raised mob lynching issues and demanded to enact a law against it. Notably, amid the rising mob lynching cases in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Ali said, "The central government is fast asleep, it has not enacted such a law." He also emphasised the judgment of the SC, which asked the Central Government to curb the rising mob lynching cases in India.

Opposition parties including Congress, TMC, DMK, TRS, and other political leaders, staged a protest in the Lok Sabha, against the fuel price hike. On March 31, raising slogans and placards, the leaders walked out of the ongoing sabha, demanding discussion over petrol and diesel price rise. Although Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla asked leaders to stop, the protest against PM Modi-led BJP Government continued longer.