Lok Sabha Speaker asks MPs not to protest outside Parliament 'dwars'
Aug 06, 2024
New Delhi [India], August 6 : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday asked MPs not to protest in the area in front of the steps leading to the Makar Dwar of Parliament.
Leaders of the INDIA bloc parties had this morning held a protest against the Central government outside the Makar Dwar to press for the rollback of 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on life and health insurance premiums.
"It was the collective sentiment of the House that there will be no protest at any 'dwars' gate of Parliament House. No gate of Parliament House would be obstructed so that smooth passage of the members is ensured," Birla said.
It is the responsibility of each member of Parliament to respect this collective sentiment, the Lok Sabha Speaker said in the House ahead of Zero Hour.
He further said that no Member and particularly no senior member should do anything in the House that will lower their dignity.
On August 2, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) leader and MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay criticised the 18 percent GST by the Centre on medical and health insurance as "anti-people" and said that it is adversely affecting the citizens of the country.
Earlier West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had taken to X to post, "Our demand to the Government of India is to roll back GST from life insurance and medical insurance premium on grounds of people's health imperatives.
"This GST is bad because it adversely affects people's ability to take care of their basic vital needs. If Government of India does not roll back the anti-people GST, we will be bound to hit the road," her post on X read.