New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday stressed the importance of preserving parliamentary decorum by urging members not to wear lapel pins or badges other than the national tricolour. His statement came in response to Congress members, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, displaying stickers with slogans such as 'Modi Adani Ek Hai' and 'Adani Safe Hai' on their attire during the parliamentary session today.
While the Congress MPs wore the badges on their black jackets during the session today, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and party leader Rahul Gandhi wore it on his signature white T-shirt. In a video posted on X by News24, the Lok Sabha speaker can be seen urging the Parlimentarians to refrain from wearing any sort of lapel pins or badges other than the national tricolour.
Birla cited Rule 349 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, which prohibits wearing badges representing anything other than the National Flag. He reminded MPs of their responsibility to uphold parliamentary traditions and maintain the dignity of proceedings. The Speaker’s appeal aims to ensure adherence to long-established norms within the House.
Protest By Congress MPs
The incident followed a broader protest by Congress MPs over allegations against billionaire Gautam Adani, who, along with his nephew, has been implicated in bribery and fraud charges by US prosecutors. In a symbolic demonstration earlier today, Congress MPs wore black jackets emblazoned with the slogan 'Modi Adani Ek Hai' (Modi and Adani are one) at the Parliament complex. The protest was part of the Opposition’s ongoing demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter.
New Delhi: Opposition MPs stage a protest during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. In an unusual protest, leaders of several INDIA bloc parties wore black jackets with stickers reading "Modi Adani Ek Hai" and "Adani Safe Hai" on them and raised slogans on the Parliament premises to demand a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani issue. | PTI
Rahul Gandhi, joined by his sister and fellow MP Priyanka Gandhi, actively participated in the protest. Speaking to the media, Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Opposition’s claims, stating, “Modi ji can't get Adani ji investigated because if he does that, he would be getting himself investigated. Modi and Adani are not two; they are one.”
Demand For JPC Remains
The demand for a JPC probe has been a consistent call from several INDIA bloc parties. On Wednesday, opposition leaders had already staged a protest on Parliament premises, pressing for a thorough investigation into the allegations against Adani. The protests reflect the Opposition’s belief that there is a deeper nexus between the government and Adani’s business interests, which they argue warrants an independent and transparent inquiry.
