Price issue rocks Parliament for second day

The Rajya Sabha was finally adjourned for the day after three adjournments as the opposition remained unrelenting on their demand for discussion on price rise under a rule which entails voting.

BJP Deputy Leader S S Ahluwalia alleged that the Prime Minister was not interested in discussing the issue, triggering angry protests from the treasury benches.

In the Lok Sabha, the proceedings were marred by protests over rising prices except for the time when the Railway Budget was being presented.Several opposition leaders including NDA convenor Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad (RJD), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI), Ratan Singh Ajnala (SAD) and Anant Geete (Shiv Sena) made a strong plea to take up the discussion through an adjournment motion, but Speaker Meira Kumar rejected their demand.

The opposition onslaught came against the backdrop of rising food inflation, which is now near 18 per cent. Prices of essential commodities like sugar, pulses, rice and vegetables have gone through the roof in the recent months.