Bisheshwar Mishra/ NEW DELHI
On the opening day of the winter session, the Rajya Sabha was today adjourned three times. First on Janata Dal-U MPs disqualification issue raised by Congress and Samajwadi Party, and subsequently twice on Prime Minister Nardndra Modi’s remarks against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alleging that Singh had connived with a Pakistani delegation during Gujarat Assembly elections. The Congress and opposition members had trooped into the well demanding apology from the government.
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In the morning Chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the house for 40 minutes when Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Aggarwal raised the disqualification issue of Janata Dal members of the House Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar Ansari. The chairman said this was not the issue of discussion as he had allowed discussion on problem caused by cyclone in Tamil Nadu. But the adamant Congress members moved into the wall to which Naidu remarked “all in well is not well.” He also questioned the opposition of forcing adjournment on the very first day instead of taking interest in the cyclone issue being raised in the zero hour.
When the House convened at 12 O clock, the chairman called out for the question hour but leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded that the day’s business be suspended as under a provision of the Constitution and under Rajya Sabha Rule 261, he wanted an apology from the government for tarnishing the dignity of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Ambassador, former Army general…..” But before Azad could complete, Naidu interjected saying he had not allowed it. The Congress leader however continued to speak. Soon members from the treasury bench too began to shout. Chairman was heard calling Dr Subramaniyam Swamy to speak. At this Congress members were seen trooping into the well and the chairman then adjourned the House till 2.30 PM.
When the House resumed at 2.30 PM to take up the Private members’ legislative business Congress leader Anand Sharma tried to raise the PM’s remark on former PM issue, but the deputy chairman P J Kurien did not allow it. Soon Congress mebers trooped into the well of the House raising slogans against Prime Minister Modi.
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