Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and BJP Leader Ravneet Singh Bittu Clash in Lok Sabha, Leading to Adjournments

||Black and White Digital News ||

||Tejveer Singh July 27 ,2024 ||

New Delhi: A heated exchange between former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi and Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu disrupted the Lok Sabha proceedings twice on Thursday, leading to adjournments during the afternoon session.

Initial Spat and Adjournment:

The verbal duel began during a discussion on the Union Budget when Mr. Channi referenced the assassination of Mr. Bittu’s grandfather, former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. Mr. Bittu, who recently joined the BJP after three terms as a Congress MP, retaliated with personal remarks against senior Congress leaders, prompting Speaker Sandhya Ray to expunge the comments from the record and adjourn the House for 30 minutes until 2 p.m.

Undeclared Emergency’ Claim:

Upon resumption, Mr. Channi accused the government of failing to keep promises to the farming community and described the current political climate as an “undeclared emergency.” He cited the lack of progress in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, actions against Opposition leaders by central agencies, and the alleged mistreatment of farmers and women athletes as evidence.

Mr. Channi also alluded to Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, who is detained under the National Security Act (NSA), stating that the inability of an elected MP to represent his constituents due to detention is indicative of an emergency situation.

Tensions in the Well of the House:

The situation escalated when Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring attempted to enter the Well of the House, but was stopped by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Simultaneously, Mr. Bittu also tried to approach the Well, leading to further chaos. Speaker Sandhya Ray intervened and adjourned the House until 2 p.m.

Government’s Response:

When the House reconvened, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged Speaker Om Birla to remove all unparliamentary references from the records. The Speaker reiterated the importance of maintaining the dignity of the House and reminded Ministers of their responsibilities to adhere to parliamentary rules.

Counter-Allegations from the Treasury Benches:

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal accused Mr. Channi of misleading the House and demanded that he authenticate his allegations regarding the NSA being used against farmers. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju supported this stance, urging the Speaker to consider a privilege motion against Mr. Channi for his statements.

Further Adjournment: The continuous uproar following Mr. Channi’s speech led BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Speaker’s chair, to adjourn the House again until 3 p.m.

Reactions Outside the House:

Speaking to the media outside the House, Mr. Bittu accused Mr. Channi of indulging in “anti-national” behavior, asserting that NSA was imposed on individuals attempting to divide the country, not on farmers. He criticized Mr. Channi for misleading the House and the public.

Budget Debate Highlights:

In the ongoing Budget debate, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming she lacked original ideas and relied on notes from the Prime Minister’s Office. Congress MP Hibi Eden highlighted Kerala’s financial crisis and the absence of a special package for the State in the Budget. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant compared the short-term employment schemes to the contentious Agniveer program, expressing concerns over their longevity.

Political Implications:

The incident underscores the deep political divides in the Lok Sabha, with significant interruptions impacting parliamentary proceedings. The claims of an “undeclared emergency” by Mr. Channi reflect ongoing tensions between the Opposition and the ruling party, particularly over issues affecting farmers and the broader political climate in Punjab and across India.

This detailed report covers the key aspects of the disruption in the Lok Sabha due to the verbal clash between Punjab leaders Charanjit Singh Channi and Ravneet Singh Bittu, along with related budget debate discussions and the broader political implications.

*video courtesy sansad tv*/DNA