Parliament was adjourned till noon today after the Opposition uproar over FDI in retail and UPA constituent DMK vociferously raising the issue of recent disclosures by a former CAG official in the 2G case.
In the Lok Sabha, soon after Speaker Meira Kumar made obituary references to former members, DMK members were on their feet waving copies of newspaper reports on the 2G spectrum allocation, which had led to resignation of their colleague A. Raja as Telecom Minister.
Trinamool members were also in the Well waving banners demanding an increase in the number of subsidised cylinders from six per year to 24.
Members of Left parties, arch rivals of the Trinamool, were also in the aisle demanding a discussion on FDI in retail under Rule 184, which entails voting.
BJP members were on their feet chanting slogans ‘FDI Vapas Lo’ (roll back the decision of FDI in retail) and demanded a discussion on the issue under Rule 184.
Speaker Meira Kumar tried to appeal to protesting members saying the first question listed was on ‘Crime Against Women’.
“The first question in on Crime Against Women. Women should go back to their seats and ask questions,” Kumar said.
Following the Speaker’s remarks, Trinamool member Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar was seen having a word with her party colleague Ratna De — both were in the Well protesting the cap on cooking gas subsidy — apparently on the question on crime against women.
“Go back to your seats. Let us have the Question Hour. Let us run the House,” the Speaker told the members but in vain.
As the din continued, she adjourned the House till noon.
The Rajya Sabha plunged into chaos soon after it assembled for the day with senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu raising the issue of FDI and was joined by other party colleagues.
Chairman Hamid Ansari’s repeated plea to allow the House to function normally went unheeded and some DMK members were seen in the aisle with newspaper clippings related to the 2G issue.
Amid the din, he adjourned the House till noon.