On the ninth day of the Winter Session, Parliament delivered yet another reminder of how layered, charged and unpredictable legislative days in India can be. Both Houses convened with packed agendas, shifting seamlessly between governance, ideology, cultural identity, and political confrontation before finally adjourning for the day.
Lok Sabha: Policy, Pollution and Pointed Exchanges
The Lok Sabha opened with Question Hour and quickly moved into dense legislative business. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2025—an essential step to authorise additional expenditure for the current financial year. This was followed by a key procedural development: the extension of the joint committee scrutinising the One Nation–One Election proposal until the Budget Session of 2026, signalling that the government intends to take its time shaping one of its most ambitious election reform ideas.
Beyond budgetary matters, the House wrestled with issues that hit much closer to the ground. Delhi’s worsening air pollution resurfaced as a major concern, with MPs demanding a comprehensive clean-air blueprint inspired by global models like Beijing’s aggressive anti-smog strategy. Environmental debates deepened further when several members objected to proposed oil and gas exploration in the fragile Gulf of Mannar ecosystem.
The session took an unexpected turn when BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleged that a Trinamool Congress MP had used a banned e-cigarette inside the chamber—prompting Speaker Om Birla to firmly remind the House that such conduct is not permissible. The accusation triggered murmurs, counterpoints and heated interventions across party benches.
Political temperatures rose further when Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier remarks during the electoral reforms debate. Gandhi described Shah as “very nervous” and under pressure, adding yet another chapter to the ongoing tug-of-war between the opposition and the treasury benches.
Rajya Sabha: Vande Mataram, Electoral Reforms and Spirited Interruptions
The Rajya Sabha carried its own brand of spirited debates. The discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram continued, a session that was expected to be ceremonial but instead evolved into a clash of political philosophies.
BJP president J.P. Nadda defended the government’s cultural position, accusing Congress of inconsistency and disregard for national symbols. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge promptly interrupted, arguing that the conversation had drifted from celebrating Vande Mataram to attacking historical figures like Jawaharlal Nehru. The exchange underscored how cultural topics in Parliament often become battlegrounds for broader political narratives.
Parallel to the cultural debate, the Upper House continued its engagement with electoral reforms. Several BJP speakers were lined up to present their arguments on proposed changes to the electoral framework, emphasising transparency and modernisation—an ongoing theme across both chambers this session.
A Day of Unfinished Arguments and Unresolved Questions
After hours of debate, disruptions and crossfire on issues ranging from national symbols to financial authorisations, both Houses were adjourned with plans to reconvene at 11 am on Friday. The day offered a vivid snapshot of India’s democratic machinery—messy, loud, ideological, but undeniably active.
With the Winter Session entering a critical phase, these debates are shaping narratives on governance, transparency, national identity and electoral change—setting the tone for the political months ahead.
