India's INDIA bloc boycotts Lok Sabha Speaker's tea party

The Indian Parliament's Monsoon Session has faced significant disruptions due to ongoing stalemates between the government and the Opposition. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appealed to Opposition members to end protests and allow the House to function, noting that while political approaches may differ, the responsibility to discharge parliamentary duties remains paramount.

Opposition MPs have staged protests regarding alleged police excesses against student protesters and issues related to donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. These disruptions have severely impacted proceedings, with Question Hour being interrupted for 18 consecutive days since the session began on July 20.

Following the adjournment sine die, members of the INDIA bloc—including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Samajwadi Party—boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Speaker Om Birla. While some leaders like the DMK's Kanimozhi attended, many senior opposition figures declined the Lok Sabha event. However, in the Rajya Sabha, opposition leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi attended the tea party hosted by Chairman C P Radhakrishnan.