LoP Rahul Gandhi asks about Ukraine, Gaza situation to Rajnath Singh in customary meeting

By Ashoke Raj
New Delhi [India], August 9 : In an informal gathering in the Lok Sabha Speaker chamber after the adjournment of both houses of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi asked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the prevailing situation in Ukraine and Gaza. The Defence Minister replies, "India is monitoring the situation closely."
Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi, exchange pleasantries in a surprising turn of events, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Friday, ending the Budget session of the 18th Lok Sabha ahead of schedule. Initially slated to conclude on August 12, the session was wrapped up on August 9, following a series of productive discussions.
Following the adjournment, an informal customary meeting took place in the chamber of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
During this meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi exchanged pleasantries, marking a rare moment of cordiality between the two leaders.
Traditionally, after both Houses are adjourned sine die, the Lok Sabha Speaker invites the floor leaders of all political parties for a customary tea meeting.
In a relaxed atmosphere, Rahul Gandhi inquired about the situation in Ukraine from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In response, Singh assured him that India is closely monitoring the developments in the region.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla provided a detailed account of the session's proceedings, highlighting that 15 sittings were held, spanning a total of 115 hours.
The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, presented the Union Budget for 2024-25 on July 23, which was deliberated for 27 hours and 19 minutes.
Birla also noted that 12 government bills were introduced during the session, with four being passed by the Lok Sabha. He lauded the session's productivity, which stood at an impressive 136 percent.
An opposition party member also raised concerns about the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh and inquired about the whereabouts of the ex-Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. However, the government did not provide a clear response on the matter.
In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reflected on the session's achievements, revealing that the Upper House dedicated around 22 hours to discussions on the Union Budget. Overall, the Rajya Sabha sat for a total of 90 hours during the session.
As the session concluded, the early adjournment and the interactions between leaders hinted at a momentary pause in the political tensions that often dominate Parliament, offering a brief glimpse of bipartisanship amidst the usual legislative grind.