A routine parliamentary panel meeting turned into a stormy face-off on Tuesday as BJP MPs walked out, objecting strongly to the presence of activist Medha Patkar and actor Prakash Raj, accusing the Congress-led chair of pushing a hidden agenda without informing members in advance.
The dramatic protest highlighted rising tensions over transparency and political divides within standing committee proceedings.
The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, had convened to consider and adopt draft reports on the functioning of the Department of Land Resources and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The meeting also included scheduled oral testimonies related to the implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Dispute Over Unlisted Witnesses Sparks Outrage
Tensions surfaced sharply when BJP MPs learned that Medha Patkar and actor-activist Prakash Raj were present to testify, despite their names not being shared beforehand with committee members. BJP MP Purushottam Rupala led the objections, asserting that Medha Patkar, known for opposing major development projects in Gujarat, lacked the moral standing to address the committee on issues impacting water resources. Rupala argued that Medha Patkar’s activism had long delayed essential projects that could have addressed drought concerns in Gujarat.
Supporting Rupala’s stance were BJP MPs Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, Raju Bista, and Jugal Kishore, who collectively accused the committee leadership of procedural lapses by withholding the list of witnesses. The BJP lawmakers insisted that prior disclosure of participants is essential for fair and informed discussions, especially when those invited have a history of criticising government policies.
According to BJP members, only Dr Sanjay Jaiswal received a witness list, triggering accusations of selective transparency. Frustration grew further when it was revealed that Prakash Raj’s name was absent even from the partial list, despite his presence outside the meeting room, raising further concerns about procedural irregularities.
Congress Defends Inclusion, BJP Alleges Political Motives
Amid the escalating tension, Congress MPs Mohammad Javed and Imran Masood defended the chairman’s decision to include a broad range of voices in the discussion, arguing that the panel must consider all perspectives, including those critical of the government. They dismissed the BJP’s objections as an attempt to politicise a routine committee meeting.
However, BJP MP Raju Bista countered that including individuals like Medha Patkar and Prakash Raj, known for their vocal criticism of the ruling government, without transparency, was a deliberate move to provoke BJP members and inject political bias into the proceedings. He cautioned that the committee should not allow its platform to be used for advancing personal political agendas under the guise of stakeholder testimonies.
Dr Sanjay Jaiswal expressed his frustration, noting that parliamentary history had not seen members being left in the dark about who would be appearing before them. He emphasised that Medha Patkar faced several cases filed by the central and state governments, questioning her credibility in representing public interest before a parliamentary body.
Sources from within the committee later suggested that while the chairman was typically viewed as fair and soft-spoken, his decision to invite figures like Medha Patkar appeared to be influenced by senior leadership within his party. The inclusion of individuals perceived as close to the Gandhi family, the sources said, sent a politically charged message that undermined the neutrality expected from such committees.
The deadlock intensified when the chairman insisted on proceeding with testimonies from ten NGO representatives despite repeated objections from BJP MPs. Feeling sidelined and unheard, the BJP members staged a walkout, leading to the adjournment of the meeting due to a lack of quorum, leaving discussions on critical reports unfinished amid the brewing political confrontation.
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