Cong demands JPC probe of Rafale deal, stalls LS

A resurgent Congress on Wednesday raised its pitch against the Government led by Bharatiya Janata Party and stalled the Lok Sabha renewing its demand for constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the 2016 Rafale fighter jet deal.

Buoyed by the party's victory in the three “Hindi Heartland” States, the Congress MPs trooped into the well of the Lok Sabha waving placards that reiterated the demand for setting up a JPC to probe the deal for procuring 36 Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft from Dassault Aviation of France for Indian Air Force.

Not only the Congress, the MPs of the other parties, including All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena, too came to the well of the House, waving placards and raising slogans on multiple issues, ranging from scrapping the project to build a dam on Cauvery at Mekedatu in Karnataka to constructing the Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had to adjourn the Lok Sabha twice, initially for about 45 minutes and then for the rest of the day.

Sunil Jakhar, a Congress MP from Punjab, moved a notice to the Speaker for an adjournment motion on the issue of the alleged scam in the 2016 Rafale deal.

The Speaker, however, did not take up the adjournment motion on Wednesday.

The uproar started soon after the new MPs took the oath and the Speaker led the Lok Sabha to pay homage to its former members, who passed away in the recent months.

Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, rose to speak on some issue, but the Speaker started the proceeding of the Question Hour. The MPs of the AIADMK came to the well of the House holding placards that read “Protect the Rights of Tamil Nadu” and “Stop Construction of Dam at Mekedatu across Cauvery”.

They were soon joined by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) who waved placards that read “We Demand Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh”.

The Shiv Sena MPs also trooped into the well raising “Jai Sri Ram” slogans and upholding placards, which stated, “Har Hindu Ki Ye Hi Pukar, Pehle Mandir Bad Me Sarkar” (Temple is the first priority for every Hindu, forming governments comes after that).

The Speaker tried to restore order in the House, but her request to the MPs to return to their seats fell in deaf ears. She then adjourned the House till 12 noon.

When the House reassembled, Mahajan did not allow Jakhar to raise the issue of the alleged scam in Rafale fighter jet deal. This prompted the Congress MPs to troop into the well of the House with placards that had pictures of Modi with Anil Ambani with caption: “Choukidar ya Bhagidar?” (Protector or Partner), apparently criticizing Prime Minister for striking a deal which would benefit the industrialist. The Congress MPs also raised slogans demanding a JPC to probe the alleged scam.

The MPs of the AIADMK, Shiv Sena and TDP also returned to the well of the House.

After the Government introduced the Dam Safety Bill amid din, Speaker adjourned the House for the rest of the day.