BJP MPs Walk Out of Panel Meeting Over Medha Patkar Invite
Tensions flared in Parliament on July 1 after BJP members of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj walked out of a scheduled meeting to protest the summoning of activist Medha Patkar and actor Prakash Raj. The mass exit led to the cancellation of the session due to lack of quorum, stalling deliberations on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Medha Patkar
The committee had called Medha Patkar—known for her leadership in the Narmada Bachao Andolan—and others from civil society to share insights on the functioning and shortcomings of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. The session was intended to include both NGO perspectives and official input from relevant ministries, in line with the committee’s review mandate.
BJP Walkout
However, BJP MPs strongly objected to Patkar’s presence, branding her “anti-national” and accusing the panel of platforming voices hostile to national interests. One member reportedly compared her invitation to “calling the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” illustrating the extent of their outrage. Within 40 minutes of the session’s start, the BJP delegation walked out collectively, collapsing the quorum and effectively ending the day’s proceedings.
Panel Procedure
Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, who chairs the committee, defended the process, stating that all invitees—activists and officials alike—were cleared through proper parliamentary channels. He reiterated that the committee’s aim was to hear from a diverse group of stakeholders and not restrict participation to government officials alone.
Meeting Postponed
With the quorum lost, the meeting was formally adjourned and will be rescheduled for a later date. While opposition members remain firm on hearing independent and grassroots voices, it remains unclear whether BJP members will attend future meetings if similar invitees are retained.
