Cong insists on resolving impasse over PM's remarks

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day soon after it assembled  on Friday as the Congress insisted that the impasse over the remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against his predecessor Manmohan Singh should be resolved first.

For the past week, the Opposition has been demanding a clarification from the prime minister over his remarks made during the Gujarat election campaign against his predecessor and others.

As soon as the House assembled and papers were laid, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the House should be adjourned till afternoon so that a solution can be found to end the impasse prevailing in the House since the first day of its sitting on December 15.

He said two meetings of the panel headed by Leader of the House Arun Jaitley have taken place to find a solution.

"The House should be adjourned till a solution is found," he said, adding that the Congress members do not want to enter the Well to force adjournment.

Azad said the Opposition too wants the House to function and carry out legislative business.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel suggested that the House should continue to function and in the meantime a solution  be found.

"This is an issue  where a solution cannot be found," he said, adding the Rajya Sabha did function for a day even during the impasse.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma too insisted that the House should be adjourned without any disruption.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu tried to continue with the Zero Hour proceedings, but as the Congress did not budge, he adjourned the House for the day.

Rajya Sabha will now meet again on December 27, after the long weekend and Christmas break.

Earlier, the Chairman had allowed two members to raise points of order.

While TMC member Derek O'Brien raised the issue of a brief "blackout" of Rajya Sabh TV telecast on Thursday,  Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal demanded a hike in the salaries of MPs.

O'Brien said the telecast was stopped at 2.13 pm  on Thursday when Congress members were protesting Modi's remarks against Manmohan Singh and others.

These are "democratic scenes", so let the people watch it, he said, adding that this is also part of  parliamentary democracy. O'Brien urged the Chair that the live broadacst should not be shut down.

To this, Naidu said "this is a suggestion" and not a point of order.

Naresh Agarwal then demanded that the salaries of MPs should be increased and said the possible criticism by the media for this should not be a factor while deciding on the salary hike. He said mediapersons also get hefty salaries.

He demanded for a response from the government on the issue.

Naidu said he will bring the matter to the notice of Jaitley.

Earlier, members paid obituary to Jalaludin Ansari who died on December 17. Ansari was member of the House from April 1994 to April 2000.