Parliament's Winter Session concludes with political strife and alarming low productivity

The session sees significantly low productivity, with LS operating at just 58% and RS at 40.03%

- VINAY KUMAR

Shortly after reconvening, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Friday, the final day of the Winter Session, amid a standoff between the opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and a scuffle on the Parliament premises on Thursday.

The Lok Sabha adopted a resolution referring the bills on simultaneous elections, also known as One Nation, One Election, to a joint parliamentary committee amid uproar. Rajya Sabha BJP members Ghanshyam Tiwari, Bhubaneshwar Kalita, K. Laxman, and Kavita Patidar were to be part of the parliamentary panel on simultaneous polls.

Unprecedented and disturbing scenes between the lawmakers were witnessed on Thursday, resulting in an FIR against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and injuries to two BJP MPs. The dramatic scenes of pushing, jostling, and roughing-up broke out after the opposition began protests against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom they alleged insulted Dr B R Ambedkar during his speech in the Rajya Sabha.

As both protesting sides clashed on the Parliament premises, the BJP claimed that two of its MPs - Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput - were allegedly pushed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and sustained injuries.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday issued strict instructions that no political party, MP, or groups of MPs would be allowed to hold any dharna or demonstration at the gates of Parliament House.