NEW DELHI: The
Rajya Sabha was abruptly adjourned for the day after
Congress leaders raised a ruckus and did not allow cricket legend and nominated Member of Parliament
Sachin Tendulkar to speak in the House.
Tendulkar, in his maiden speech on the floor of the Upper House on Thursday, had moved a Short Discussion Motion on the future of sports in India and right to play. He was expected to address some long pending issues including coverage of Central Health Guarantee Scheme (CGHS) for international medal winners and incorporation of sports in school curriculum.
However, House proceedings were once again disrupted by protesting Congress members, much as it has been since the Parliament convened for the Winter session last Friday. No sooner did Tendulkar stand up to begin the discussion, Congress MPs also jumped to their feet, demanding Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to apologize for insinuating that his predecessor
Manmohan Singh is colluding with Pakistan.
Tendulkar, a Bharat Ratna winner, remained standing for 10 minutes, tight-lipped, as Opposition members raised slogans, ignoring Chairman
Venkaiah Naidu's calls to come to order.
Naidu reminded them that the nation was watching the uproar they were causing in the Rajya Sabha and called on them to let Tendulkar speak. But unruly Congress MPs paid no heed to his requests.
"We're discussing about sports and you don't have the sporting spirit," Naidu scolded, before ordering the live telecast of House proceedings to be cut off.
Tendulkar did not get the chance to speak today as the Rajya Sabha, which had only re-convened at 2 pm after sustained sloganeering by Congress leaders earlier, was again adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
"He (Sachin Tendulkar) has earned name for India at the world stage, it is a matter of shame that he was not allowed to speak even when everyone knew it was on today's agenda. Are only politicians allowed to speak?" BJP MP Jaya Bachchan told ANI.
Congress has been since the past week seeking an explanation from PM Modi over "false" allegations he made against his predecessor Manmohan Singh during the Gujarat elections.
In the face of persistent disruption by Congress members on Wednesday, Naidu had a flare-up and told them that no apology would be forthcoming as the Prime Minister's comments were not made on Parliament premises.
Tendulkar ranks top among the nominated members in Rajya Sabha having allocated nearly 98 per cent of the total Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds of Rs 30 crores. Over 60 per cent of the projects identified by the former Indian cricketer have been completed. He is also among the few parliamentarians who have successfully adopted two villages under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).
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