Lok Sabha adjourned for day due to Opposition's protest over Adani issue

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Friday as Opposition members raised slogans demanding a discussion and a joint parliamentary committee probe into the fraud-allegation-triggered rout in Adani Group company stocks.

Soon after the House met for the day, Opposition members were on their feet shouting slogans and demanding a probe into the tanking of the Adani Group scrips and sought a probe into the business practices of the corporate giant.

Speaker Om Birla appealed to members to stop their protests and participate in the discussions.

However, an unrelenting Opposition continued their protests and sloganeering, forcing the speaker to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm.

After the House met for the second time in the day, opposition members continued with their demand.

Amid sloganeering, Rajendra Agarwal, who was in the Chair, allowed the laying of parliamentary papers in the House.

Agarwal also appealed to Opposition members to go back to their seats and allow discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

As protest continued, he adjourned Lok Sabha for the day.

Leaders of several opposition parties on Friday submitted adjournment notices in both houses of Parliament demanding an immediate discussion on the Adani Group issue and also the border situation with China.

Prominent among those MPs who have given adjournment notices, include Congress chief Whip in Rajya Sabha Naseer Hussain and party's Whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore.

Besides, BRS leader K Keshava Rao and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi have also given notices under Rule 267 on the same issue.

Rule 267 allows for suspension of the day's business to debate issue suggested by member.

Congress MPs in Rajya Sabha Amee Yajnik, Pramod Tiwari, Kumar Ketkar and Neeraj Dangi have also given similar notices on the issue under Rule 267.

"...This House do suspend the Zero Hour and relevant rules related to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the issue of fraud in investment by LIC, SBI, public sector banks and other financial institutions losing market value,  endangering the hard-earned savings of crores of Indians," said Hussain in his notice.

"The report exposes the dangers to which the Indian people and economy are subjected to and merit immediate discussion, adjourning today's list of business in the House," Rao said in his notice.

Manish Tewari (Congress), in his notice in Lok Sabha, has, however, demanded a discussion on the border situation with China.

"....that this House do suspend Zero Hour and other businesses of the day to have a detailed discussion on the border situation with China. Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab," Tewari said in his notice.

He also alleged that China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops.  "China is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo," he alleged.

The adjournment notices come a day after a united opposition stalled both houses of Parliament over the issue while demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe or a Supreme Court-monitored probe into what they described a "scam".

The opposition has been alleging that the drastic fall in Adani group shares on Indian exchanges has put public money in danger as public sector LIC and SBI have invested in the Adani Group.

The Congress has alleged that the LIC and SBI have been "forced" to invest in the Adani Group.