Indian parliament breaks up in deadlock
India’s parliament broke up on Friday at the end of a fruitless legislative session that was blocked by protests, leading to concern about the health of the world’s biggest democracy.
India’s parliament broke up on Friday at the end of an almost entirely wasted legislative session that was blocked by protests, leading to concern about the health of the world’s biggest democracy.
Opposition lawmakers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who are demanding the prime minister resigns over a coal scandal, staged noisy protests for the 16th working day in a row in both houses of parliament.
Faced with lawmakers shouting and waving papers, the parliamentary speakers of both chambers were left with no choice but to halt proceedings shortly after midday on the final day of the current session.
“It is unfortunate that the house was not allowed to function,” a lawmaker from the ruling Congress party, Jagdambika Pal, lamented to reporters outside the heavily guarded building in the centre of the capital.
“The BJP is responsible... they have made a mockery of parliamentary democracy.”
Parliamentarians have deliberated on legislation for just 25 out of a possible 120 hours during the monsoon session which began on August 8, according to PRS Legislative Research, a New Delhi-based independent study group.