Lok Sabha secretariat cautions MPs ahead of Monsoon session
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha secretariat has issued a fresh advisory asking Members of Parliament to refrain from protests, demonstrations and the display of placards inside the Parliament House complex, while also cautioning against carrying items such as firearms, “lathis” and swords within the premises.The Monsoon session is scheduled to commence on July 20 and continue until August 13. In a series of parliamentary bulletins issued before the session, the secretariat reminded MPs that demonstrations, “dharna”, strikes, fasts and religious ceremonies are not permitted within the Parliament precincts.The advisory also asked members not to stage protests at the entry gates of Parliament, citing concerns over the movement and security of lawmakers.”Members are requested not to hold protests or demonstrations in front of gates of Parliament House as such actions cause serious hindrance to the movement of members to the Parliament chambers during sittings of the Houses. Here attention of members is drawn to Direction 124A(2) of the Directions by the Speaker, Lok Sabha. Keeping building gates free from any blockage is also essential for ensuring safety and security of members in the Parliament House. Kind cooperation of Hon’ble members is solicited,” the bulletin said.The secretariat further reminded MPs not to use the Parliament complex for demonstrations, “dharna”, strikes, fasts or the performance of religious rituals.In a separate bulletin, lawmakers were informed that several objects remain prohibited within the Parliament House Estate to ensure free movement inside the complex. The restricted items include firearms, banners, placards, “lathis”, spears, swords and sticks, among others.The Lok Sabha secretariat also flagged the increasing use of artificial intelligence-generated content during protests. It said AI-generated portraits, images and slogans of a derogatory nature have been appearing on posters, placards and banners, and advised members against displaying such material within the Parliament complex during the upcoming session.The advisory comes against the backdrop of repeated disruptions during recent sessions of Parliament, where opposition protests, sloganeering and the display of placards frequently led to adjournments. During the Budget session earlier this year, several suspended MPs had staged protests for days outside one of Parliament’s gates after being barred from attending House proceedings.
