New Delhi,August 21(HS):

The tumultuous Monsoon Session of Parliament came to an abrupt close on Wednesday, with the Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die within minutes of reconvening. Speaker Om Birla, visibly miffed at relentless protests from the Opposition benches, blamed “planned disruptions” for the poor productivity of the session that stretched across 32 days but saw very little substantive debate.

The day was marked by high drama as Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked into the House minutes beforeSpeaker Om Birla called time on the session. The Opposition, insisting on a discussion over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar, continued pressing the demand even as the Speaker pressed ahead with adjourning proceedings.

While the din prevailed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah succeeded in introducing three significant bills aimed at tightening accountability of lawmakers. The proposed laws envisage disqualification of elected representatives who are arrested on serious criminal charges and held in custody without bail for more than 30 days—an unprecedented move that is bound to spark fierce debate both inside and outside Parliament.

A day earlier, the Lok Sabha had passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, by a voice vote. The legislation seeks to outlaw the offering, promotion, and advertisement of “online money games,” a domain including fantasy sports and card games that encourage monetary stakes. The Bill underscores the government’s intent to regulate India’s fast-expanding, high-stakes digital gaming ecosystem, which has drawn both sharp criticism and fervent backing.

Yet, legislative business was overshadowed by the constant ruckus. A snapshot of the session’s productivity underlined the impasse: 21 sittings over 32 days yielded only 36.9 hours of effective work in the Lok Sabha and 41.3 hours in the Rajya Sabha, with just 55 of 419 listed questions answered. Many of the Bills pushed through were passed without detailed discussion, underscoring the deadlock between treasury and Opposition benches.

In his closing remarks before adjourning Parliament, Speaker Om Birla delivered a sharp rebuke to MPs across party lines. “The language of members, inside and outside of Parliament, should uphold dignity,” he urged, highlighting the corrosive effect of unruly conduct on democratic institutions.

As the House emptied and the Monsoon Session ended on a chaotic note, two things became clear: the government remains determined to push its legislative agenda through turbulence, while the Opposition is equally intent on pressing its demands, ensuring the storm in Parliament is far from over.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar