RS proceedings washed out

The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were washed out again as the Congress continued its protest over the suspension of its 25 members in the Lok Sabha, shouting slogans against the "dictatorial" attitude of the government.

However, the Lok Sabha functioned normally and took up scheduled business for the day, even as opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) walked out of the Lower House in protest against the suspension of Congress members.

The members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress did not turn up to the Lok Sabha in protest for the second consecutive day.

The ruckus over suspension of Congress members began in the Upper House soon after it assembled for the day.

The Opposition members shouted slogans against the government like ‘Modi government is corrupt’ and ‘Dictatorship by Modi will not be allowed’, leading to repeated adjournments of the Upper House.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien made several attempts to bring the House in order and later adjourned it for the day in afternoon with the Congress refusing to relent.

"This is nothing but indiscipline. It will not take you anywhere. Parliament is for discussion and debate and not for slogans. Because of the unruly behaviour of some of the members, I am forced to adjourn the House,” he said.

The functioning of the Lok Sabha, however, remained smooth as opposition parties including the SP, RJD and the NCP walked out in protest against suspension of Congress members as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan declinined to entertain their repeated requests for eevokaing of her decision.

TRS members, who were also raising slogans demanding creation of a separte high court for Telangana, later stood in the aisle holding placards near the treasury benches.

After the Opposition walked out, members asked questions and ministers answered them during Question Hour in the Lower House.

During the zero hour, BJP member R K Singh raised the issue of raising of Pakistani flags in Kashmir and questioned why the PDP-BJP government was not taking stern action.

Akali Dal member Prem Singh Chandumajra raked up the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and questioned the status of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, attacking the Congress over the massacre of thousands of people.
DH News Service