NEW DELHI: INDIA bloc parties, including the three largest constituents of the opposition alliance — the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress — on Thursday boycotted the Lok Sabha Speaker’s customary tea party held after the conclusion of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, a senior Congress leader said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and several other senior leaders and ministers were present at the gathering in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s chamber, PTI reported citing sources.Among the opposition parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi attended the traditional get-together. The DMK, however, is no longer part of the Congress-led opposition bloc.In the Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi, attended the tea party hosted by Chairman CP Radhakrishnan.The Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman traditionally host tea parties in their respective chambers after the proceedings of the two Houses are adjourned sine die.The opposition’s decision to skip the Lok Sabha Speaker’s tea party came after a stormy Monsoon Session, marked by repeated disruptions over the Delhi Police crackdown on NEET student protesters during their march to Parliament on July 20, the first day of the session.
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The opposition also repeatedly demanded a government statement on the alleged theft of offerings from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on Thursday, the scheduled final day of the Monsoon Session.Addressing media later, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said Rajya Sabha recorded only 39% productivity, while the Lok Sabha recorded 19%.
