Parliamentary gridlock gripped the national capital today as opposition fury over a Union Minister’s alleged Epstein ties led to the Lok Sabha’s prorogation until March 9. What began as a routine Friday sitting spiraled into hours of pandemonium.
Opposition lawmakers surged into the central aisle at 11 AM, chanting demands for Hardeep Singh Puri’s ouster. The Petroleum Minister faces accusations of past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, based on purported documents.
Adding fuel to the fire, Congress leader Ujjwal Raman Singh spotlighted codeine syrup fatalities. He urged the Centre to provide Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to affected families in UP and MP, insisting on a CBI investigation to nab culprits.
JP Nadda, the Health Minister, stood firm in Question Hour. Shouting down disruptions, he asserted no causal link to codeine existed, rendering compensation unwarranted.
TMC, DMK, and other parties joined the fray, boycotting proceedings. Deputy Speaker Sandhya Ray’s appeals fell on deaf ears, prompting adjournments first till lunch and then indefinitely till March 9 after ministers laid papers.
Pre-session protests in Parliament premises amplified the Epstein controversy. While opposition parties weaponized the issue against the government, Puri refuted all allegations outright.
As the dust settles, this episode highlights opposition strategies to corner the ruling dispensation. The month-long hiatus could delay pressing reforms, leaving the legislative agenda in limbo.