The Congress forced adjournments for the third consecutive days in the Rajya Sabha even as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made thinly veiled attacks at the principal Opposition party for holding up critical legislations.
At a function organized by a Hindi daily, the Prime Minister said disruptions in Parliament are a “matter of sorrow”. “It is not just GST but many pro-poor steps are stuck in Parliament,” Modi said at Jagran Forum.
“Democracy cannot function at the whims and fancies of anyone…You must have seen that these days this (disruptions) are being witnessed.
The Finance Minister made a similar reference to the Congress blocking Parliament over the issuance of summons to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, asserting that India has not accepted the diktat that the ‘Queen’ is above the law.
The Congress seemed unmoved by the attack. Proceedings in Rajya Sabha were washed out as Congress members continued to create uproar over the Herald case, triggering protests from the ruling side which contended that the House was being held “hostage”.
In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and Trinamool Congress MPs raised the issue of BJP MP Virendra Singh’s “racist” remarks against the Congress leaders. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wanted the MP to apologise. After disruptions during Question Hour, the matter was raised against during Zero Hour. Failing to elicit an apology, the Congress staged a walkout.
The Upper House was repeatedly adjourned and the final adjournment for the day came minutes after 3 pm because of relentless shouting of slogans against the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Congress members who were in the Well all day.
Trouble began soon after the House met for the day with Congress members raising anti-government slogans over the summons issued by a Delhi court to party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The noisy scenes first forced Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to adjourn the House till 11.30 am and then again till noon. Kurien also got the listed papers of the day laid on the table and then called for Zero Hour mentions, as noisy scenes continued.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed strong objection at the Opposition’s behaviour.
“Ministers are sitting in the House to answer questions of members. If some members are not seeking to ask questions, why are other members being prevented from doing so? Some people cannot hold the House to ransom. Unfortunately, some people are taking this House hostage. The House needs your protection,” he told Chairman Hamid Ansari during Question Hour.
Congress members continued slogan-shouting. The BJP members were also on their feet as Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reiterated that the government was ready for discussion on “all issues”.